22 Mysteries, Thrillers, & Suspense Novels for July

July is a good month for fans of suspense, with the publication of all kinds of genre books from dark psychological thrillers to fun cozy mysteries. The titles listed here are just a handful that caught my attention. I find it hard to resist a good crime novel, and it was difficult to limit this post to just 22.

Note that I have read only a few of these books, and most of the short descriptions have been taken from the publishers’ summaries. Audiobook information is provided when available. Thanks to the publishers for the review copies (print, digital, and/or audio).

Amateur Sleuthing

The Grandmother Plot by Caroline B. Cooney (Poisoned Pen Press): Freddy may be unambitious and somewhat lost, but he loves his grandmother, whose memory is fading. When a resident in her assisted living home is murdered, Freddy must protect his grandmother and figure out what happened, while facing the consequences of his own dubious life choices. The audiobook is read by Caroline B. Cooney (Random House Audio).

The Moonshine Shack Murder by Diane Kelly (Berkley): The start of a cozy mystery series set in Tennessee featuring a 21st-century moonshiner. When one of her customers is found dead supposedly after drinking her whiskey, Hattie gets involved in the case in order to save her name and business. The audiobook is read by Tyla Collier (Penguin Audio).

Much Ado About Nauticaling by Gabby Allan (Kensington): The first in a cozy mystery series set in Southern California featuring a boat tour guide. When taking out tourists in her glass-bottomed boat, Whitney spots the dead body of a wealthy local businessman; after her bother becomes suspect number one, she gets involved in the investigation. The audiobook is read by Marnye Young (Tantor Audio).

Beware of Your Friends and Family

Fierce Little Thing by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore (Flatiron): Five estranged friends, who met while in a cult, are blackmailed into returning to the Maine compound they left almost 20 years earlier. The past is never fully buried, and as secrets are exposed they must find a way to survive. The audiobook is read by Saskia Maarleveld (Macmillan Audio).

Look What You Made Me Do by Elaine Murphy (Grand Central): This is a Dexter-like story in which a woman ends up helping her serial-killer sister hide the bodies of her victims. When a second killer seems to be targeting the sisters, they need to continue to hide their own crimes while trying to stop and expose the other person’s crimes. The audiobook is read by Elaine Murphy (Grand Central).

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (Pamela Dorman): This domestic thriller focuses on the three adult children of a wealthy couple that was murdered soon after a family Easter dinner. Who would have wanted the Merton’s dead--stranger, friend, or relative? The audiobook is read by Ellen Archer (Penguin Audio).

Step back in Time

M, King’s Bodyguard by Niall Leonard (Pantheon): Set in Edwardian London and based on a true story. A Scotland Yard detective uncovers a possible assassination attempt that is supposed to happen at Queen Victoria’s funeral, when many heads of state will be gathered in the same space. The audiobook is read by Marcus Lamb (Random House Audio).

The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross (Delacorte): In 1946, Clara works as a vault girl for a major Hollywood studio, awaiting her chance to become a film editor. When she almost literally stumbles across the body of a famous actress, she becomes involved in the investigation and takes a walk on the darker side of the industry. The audiobook is read by Lisa Flanagan and Elizabeth Ross (Listening Library).

A Study in Crimson by Robert J. Harris (Pegasus): Imagine that Sherlock Holmes lived during the 1940s. In the dark days after the Blitzkrieg, a copycat Jack the Ripper killer murders women on the blacked-out streets of London; can Holmes and Watson solve the case?

Neighborhoods Can Be Tough

The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller (Ballantine): When tragedy strikes an exclusive gated community in the San Francisco Bay Area, rumor has it a wealthy widow is somehow to blame. Enlisting the help of two married neighbors, the widow attempts to learn the truth about the accident; all three have secrets to protect. The audiobook is read by Dorothy Dillingham Blue, Catherine Taber, and Cassandra Campbell (Random House).

Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda (Simon & Schuster): A gated community in Virginia is double rocked: first with the murder of their neighbors and second when the woman who was initially convicted is freed to return home to that same community. Old wounds are reopened, paranoia runs high, and the true killer is, apparently, still on the loose. The audiobook is read by Rebekkah Ross (Simon & Schuster Audio).

The Therapist by B. A. Paris (St. Martin’s Press): Soon after Alice and Leo decide to live together, moving into a gated community in London, they learn their house was the site of a murder-suicide that was never fully solved. Alice’s obsessive search to learn what really happened threatens to unearth her new neighbors’ secrets. The audiobook is read by Olivia Dowd and Thomas Judd (Macmillan Audio).

School Is a Killer

Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell (Berkley): An English professor passes off a missing student’s manuscript as his own. Its publication, however, triggers a series of events that may implicate him in a murder he didn’t commit. Can he find the student or the true killer before he loses everything? The audiobook is read by Jon Lindstrom (Penguin Audio).

Safe in My Arms by Sara Shepard (Dutton): Three young mothers, each hiding something from her past, meet at the back-to-school event for their children’s first day at an upscale California preschool. Soon after, the principal is violently attacked and all eyes turn to the newcomers; together the women try to protect their secrets while uncovering the darker underbelly of the school. The audiobook is read by Eileen Stevens (Penguin Audio).

The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue (Algonquin): This modern Gothic story is set in a prestigious Irish girls boarding school, where a scholarship student is first bullied, then meets the dashing male art teacher, and then disappears with him, never to be seen again. Twenty-five years after the couple went missing, an investigative journalist is determined to find out what happened. The audiobook is read by Jennifer Fitzgerald and Clodagh Duggan (Workman).

Travel Gone Wrong

Falling by T. J. Newman (Simon & Schuster): Don’t read this thriller if you’re planning to fly. A pilot’s family has been kidnapped; to free them, he is told he must crash the plane, killing everyone on board. The audiobook is read by Steven Weber (Simon & Schuster Audio).

The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish (Atria): When his neighbor and commuting partner disappears, Jamie is accused of his murder after someone tells the police the two men had been arguing while riding the ferry across the Thames. Jealousies, secrets, deceptions, and a few twists will keep you guessing. The audiobook is read by Steven Mackintosh (Simon & Schuster Audio).

Sleeping Bear by Connor Sullivan (Atria): Grieving after her husband’s unexpected death, Cassie, an army veteran, takes her dog on a weekend camping trip in Alaska but fails to return home. Kidnapped with no clear way of escape, Cassie draws on all her skills and training to survive, while back home her father will stop at nothing to find out what happened. The audiobook is read by Hillary Huber (Simon & Schuster).

Are You Ever Really Safe?

Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix (Berkley): Five women who were the sole survivors of separate bouts of murder and mayhem meet during group therapy. When one of them fails to show up for an appointment, the other four are pulled back into danger, fighting for their lives. The audiobook is read by Adrienne King (Penguin Audio)

Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron (Ballantine): When Cassie, a lonely temp worker, mistakenly discovers the intimate email correspondence between one of her bosses and his wife, she can’t stop reading. Eventually, curiosity turns to obsession, and Cassie plans a way to be part of the couple’s life. The audiobook is read by Annie Q (Random House Audio).

The Lost Girls by Jessica Chiarella (Putnam): A true-crime podcaster lucks out on finding a lead that may help her learn what happened to her sister, who disappeared 20 years earlier. She and one of her subscribers start down a dangerous path, each looking for her own answers. The audiobook is read by Stacey Glemboski (Penguin Audio).

Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan (Flatiron): Part Gothic, part police procedural, this thriller, set in England, starts with the discovery of 16 horses’ heads, buried in a seemingly ritualistic manner. Detective Alec and veterinary forensic specialist Cooper together investigate this crime and several other criminal incidents that threaten to panic the seaside town. The audiobook is read by Louise Brealey (Macmillan Audio).

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Still Reading; or What's in My (Virtual) Book Tote

Am I the only one who has more than one style of reading? I bet not. Most of the time, I read books the regular way—starting on page 1 and reading to the end, straight through, in short order. Other books I read piecemeal over the course of several weeks or even months, and not necessarily in order from the first page to the last.

What? Am I crazy? Maybe, but let me explain. The books I’m talking about are collections of short stories or essays, travel writing, food writing, history, some biographies, and other nonfiction. For example, I might be interested in a trade book on, say, dinosaurs. Because I’ve read quite a lot about paleontology, not only in graduate school but also for fun, my approach may be to skim some of the background chapters and then to read carefully when the author turns to newer research or discoveries.

I’m content with my weird reading habits, but I’m often uncomfortable talking about the books I've read unconventionally here on Beth Fish Reads. I can't help but wonder if I should share my thoughts about a book I haven’t read cover to cover or that took me a while to read. It’s silly isn’t it? If I make it clear I’m still reading, then why not let you know what I think so far?

That’s what today’s post is all about. Here are the books in my current slow-read stack. (Print or digital copies provided by the publisher or publicist.)

I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan, which I first read when I was in sixth or seventh grade. Since then, I’ve reread the entire series, starting with The Hobbit, about every five years. It’s no surprise that I was excited to get a chance to read David Day’s An Encyclopedia of Tolkien: The History and Mythology That Inspired Tolkien’s World (Canterbury Classics, Oct. 8). Before I get to the contents, just let me tell you that this leather-bound hardback is simply gorgeous. It has gilded edges, a marker ribbon, and contains close to 200 beautiful black-and-white drawings of Tolkien’s universe. Day includes entries on people and characters, lands, creatures, and events found in the books. Some entries relate to Tolkien’s inspirations and scholarship, and others are about gods and legends from various traditions (Greek, Roman, Norse, biblical). I’ve been flipping through, admiring the artwork and reading the entries that catch my eye. If you are a LOTR fan, then you must have a copy, and if there is a Tolkien lover in your family, then this is the perfect gift.

I’m not sure what triggered my interest in the Middle Ages, but I find it hard to resist novels set during that period, and I also like reading medieval history. Kelcey Wilson-Lee’s biography and history, Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Children of King Edward Longshanks (Pegasus, Oct. 1) is more than the story of Edward I’s five daughters. Wilson-Lee presents a non-romanticized look at the complex lives of medieval noblewomen. I’m still in the early chapters, so can’t comment on the overall level of scholarship or conclusions, but I like the different perspectives. Women and girls were, of course, used by men for political or economic gain; that didn’t mean, however, they were totally without independence, that they couldn’t be successfully defiant, or that they couldn’t find ways to take full advantage of their circumstances. Far from being demure damsels in distress waiting for their knight in shining armor, women sometimes had the power to save themselves. I’m assuming Edward’s daughters do just that. Other themes are education, childbirth, and court life.

My father was on a lifelong mission to rid our yard and gardens of moles. This was one battle he lost. In How to Catch a Mole: Wisdom from a Life Lived in Nature (Greystone, Oct. 1), Marc Hamer shares his journey from professional mole hunter to mole accepter. This book offers a little bit of everything because Hamer, himself, has had a multilayered life. The essays and poems collected here reveal the hidden life of moles, recount Hamer's own journey to and from his solitary profession, and bring us closer to nature. In the introduction, Hamer tells us,

There is a difference between truth and honesty, so I am going to tell you one of the millions of honest stories that I could tell you that might be good enough to call ‘true’. One of the stories that led me to the point of kneeling in a muddy field in December with a dead mole in my hand and deciding it was time to stop killing.

The book is beautifully illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Joe McLaren. I'm reading this collection, one essay or poem at a time. One thing, though, even if my dad (who really did love animals) had had the chance to read this book, I doubt he'd have given up on his dream of a mole-free property.

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8 True Stories to Read This Month

Do you have genres you just can't say no to? I do, and one of them is nonfiction.As you may have noticed, I've been on a true-story kick lately. Lucky me, because May is full of great new nonfiction of all types. I tried to restrain myself, but I couldn't resist the list I'm sharing today. Memoirs, history, architecture, crafting, biography, and the outdoors--bring it on!

Here's just some of my nonfiction list for this month. I've already read some of the books featured here (see next Monday's post), but others are still to come.

Biography

Do you like green eggs with ham? Or will you not eat them here or there, will not eat them anywhere? If you know what I'm talking about then you'll want to pick up a copy of Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination by Brian Jay Jones (Dutton, May 7). I sure hope all of you grew up with Dr. Seuss. When I was very small, I loved his books and poems and illustrations. He was publishing some of his most famous books (Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat) when I was learning to read, and even though I know most of his work from the 1950s and early 1960s, I don't know anything about the man who created the Grinch. I'm looking forward to discovering the arc of his life and career, and I trust Jones to do Seuss right. First line: "On paper, Mulberry Street doesn't look like much." Audiobook: Read by Mike Chamberlain (Penguin Audio, 18 hr)

When I was in college I had a half dream of opening a restaurant. Fortunately (or maybe not), I woke up and went on to become a few other something elses. I still love cooking for others, even all these years later. I also still remember when I read Kitchen Confidential. It's hard to believe that was almost 20 years ago, but I've followed Anthony Bourdain ever since. I was so sorry to hear about his death by suicide last year, but I'm glad to have a chance to revisit him in CNN's Anthony Bourdain Remembered (Ecco, May 28). This book is not a memoir but a collection of photographs and tributes, stories and memories from his friends, fans, and acquaintances. It's beautifully put together and will tug at your heart. It will also make you want to travel and to eat! First line: "When we met Tony for the first time in 2012 to discuss developing and hosting our first CNN Original Series, he explained that he did not consider himself a journalist." Audiobook: none.

Curious Minds

Here's another thing about me: despite the hardships and dangers, I'm forever sorry that I was not around during the pioneer days of the American West. I've read quite a few firsthand accounts of the journey from St. Louis to parts unknown so it comes as no surprise that The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, May 7) is on my list. I'm kind of saving this book for deck-reading weather, thinking I'll do an alternating read and listen--one of my favorite ways to read history. McCullough starts in the late 1780s with the settling of Ohio country and ends just short of a 100 years later in the aftermath of the Civil War. The print/digital book has maps and photo inserts, which I'll look at while I'm listening. First line: "Never before, as he knew, had any of his countrymen set off to accomplish anything like what he had agreed to undertake—a mission that, should he succeed, could change the course of history in innumerable ways and to the long-lasting benefit of countless Americans." Audiobook: Read by John Bedford Lloyd (Simon & Schuster Audio; 10 hr, 23 min)

Whenever I visit a new place, especially a big city like New York City, I love looking at the buildings. My eye, and my camera, are drawn to the details: the muntin patterns, the shape of the brackets and braces, the adorning statues, and the stonework. Did you know that the current Madison Square Garden--that round, rather nondescript building above the train station--is actually the third arena to grace that corner? Suzanne Hinman's The Grandest Madison Square Garden: Art, Scandal, and Architecture in Gilded Age New York (Syracuse University Press, May 15) is all about building two, completed in 1890. How I would have loved to see that tower, topped with the shining nude sculpture of the goddess Diana. Oh the shock! This book introduces us to the architects and visionaries who build the Garden and places the entire project in the context of the city and the splendors and excesses of the Gilded Age. Period photographs and maps are found throughout the book. First line (prologue): "New York City, 'the diamond stickpin on the shirtfront of America.' " Audiobook: none

Women's Stories

As you might have guessed by the number of books I read set in cold, sparsely populated places, I love the northern climes. I've never been to Iceland, but if I visit, it's the northern tip I'm interested in. In Wild Horses of the Summer Sun: A Memoir of Iceland (Pegasus Books, May 7), Tory Bilski describes her love of horses and life on a remote farm far away from the stresses of the modern world. Each June, Bilski and a few other women move to Iceland to spend the long summer days with Icelandic horses and with each other. Although married and working at Yale, Bilski finds a deep sense of her inner self and a connection to nature when on horseback in this wild area of the world. Over the years, the women have gotten to know each other, sharing their joys and sorrows and finding strength in their joint commitment to the horses and their growing friendship. The print/digital copy includes color photos. First Line: "First time, right off the bat, years before the technical advantages of GPS or iPhones, we get lost." Audiobook: none

You know how if it's a woman's problem then no one talks about it? I'm reassured in this new(ish) century that things are changing. Menopause has emerged from taboo land, and now so has postpartum depression. It's real, and until recently women kept their sorrows and struggles private. Modern mothers are telling their stories, offering empathy and support to others who suffered from PPD. In her graphic memoir, Dear Scarlet (Arsenal Pulp, May 7) Teresa Wong writes honestly and frankly about the darkness that overcame her after the birth of her first child. Wong sets her memoir up as a letter to her daughter and writes about thinking she wasn't a good enough mother and of feeling overwhelmed. Despite getting domestic help, seeing a therapist, and accepting support from her family, she could not find the light within. Wong's journey ultimately turns out okay, offering hope to other new mothers. The black and white drawings nicely convey Wong's roller-coaster emotions. First line: "The other day, you told me that when you grow up, you want to be a mommy." Audiobook: none.

Men's Stories

Did you know that I come from a sailing family? My parents had a boat that they sailed on the Great Lakes pretty much all the way up to the day my father died. My mother was a freelance journalist, and boats and sailing were her beat. One of my cousins built a boat or two, and one of our closest friends has also built seaworthy small boats. Thus Jonathan Gornall's How to Build a Boat: A Father, His Daughter, and the Unsailed Sea (Scribner, May 7) caught my eye. In his memoir, Gornall talks about his unlikely decision to build a wooden Viking-style small boat for his newborn daughter. This venture led him to learn about wood, about boats, about tools, and about becoming a better father this second time around. Throughout he also talks about his own childhood, his relationship with his grown son, and his (sometimes failed) experiences on the open water. First line: "There are, I suppose in my ignorance, two foolproof ways to find out if a newly built wooden boat is watertight." Audiobook: Read by the author (Simon & Schuster, 9 hr, 22 min)

I grew up in farm country, and though I moved to a different state, I still make my home in (dwindling) farm country. I've never, however, been a farmer. John Connell grew up on a farm in Ireland, but he spent his early adulthood away from home, earning his way as a filmmaker and journalist. The call of the land finally became too strong to ignore, and he returned home. The Farmer's Son: Calving Season on a Family Farm (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 7) is his story of homecoming, of reconnecting to Ireland, of the endless farm chores, of tending to the animals, and of living under the scrutiny of his father. The work is physically demanding and living with his father is rocky, but Connell notices a lifting of his blues as he settles back into the community and finds a place among the animals under his care and on the land that nurtured generations of his family. First line: "I’m twenty-nine and I’ve never delivered a calf myself." Audiobook: Read by Alan Smyth (Highbridge, 7 hr, 56 min)

Need More?

Here are a few more books I really want to read:

• Unspeakable: The Things We Cannot Say by Harriet Shawcross (Canongate, May 7): A multi-perspective look at silence
• The Walking Life: Reclaiming Our Health and Our Freedom One Step at a Time by Antonia Malchik (De Capo, May 7): An anthropological, sociological look at human locomotion
• Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It by Adam Savage (Atria, May 7): A maker's life.
• How to Think Like a Fish: And Other Lessons from a Lifetime in Angling by Jeremy Wade (De Capo, May 21): A life lived in the outdoors.

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10 Books About Ourselves and Our World

I'm an eclectic reader. My shelves contain a healthy mix of literary fiction, fantasy, mystery, and even middle grade novels. Sitting right next to all of that escape reading are a good number of true stories, science, history, essays, and biography. These days, I doubt I could name just one genre or subject as my favorite, but when I was in elementary school, I used to tell people that biography was my go-to.

Today's roundup highlights the nonfiction titles I've added to my April reading list. I know I won't get to all of these, but the following 10 books are the ones that caught my attention. The list contains biography, history, science, personal essays, and memoir, so I hope something here will find its way to your own bookshelves. Note that I'm not including food writing/memoir, which I'll save for my Weekend Cooking posts.

Science

• The Accidental Homo Sapiens: Genetics, Behavior, and Free Will by Ian Tattersall and Robert DeSalle (Pegasus Books; April 2). This book examines human evolution from a contemporary theoretical context, looking at the interplay of genetics and behavior, the way humans solve problems and change their environment, and the biological future of our species. Why I want to read this: Tattersall was youngish paleontologist, already making a name for himself, when I was in graduate school. He and DeSalle are both associated with the American Museum of Natural History and are well respected in the fields of physical anthropology and evolution. This topic is closely related to my own academic interests.
• American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley (Harper, April 2). I can't summarize this better than the following sentence from the publisher: "A vivid and enthralling chronicle of one of the most thrilling, hopeful, and turbulent eras in the nation’s history, [this book] is an homage to scientific ingenuity, human curiosity, and the boundless American spirit." Why I want to read this: First--gawk!--it cannot possibly be 50 years since we first landed on the moon; it was 20 years ago tops, right? I'm particularly interested in this account because it includes new interviews and firsthand accounts of the politics, people, and technology that allowed JFK's challenge to be met ahead of schedule.
• Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate by M. K. Reed and illustrated by Jonathan Hill (First Second, April 16). This book helps us learn to distinguish between weather and climate and tells us all about new weather technology and how major storm systems develop. This fun nonfiction comic answers all our questions about storms throughout the seasons. Why I want to read this: I'm curious about the world around me and love the idea of learning more about weather through a nonfiction comic. This may be geared to middle grade readers, but I'm sure I'll discover something new about meterology.

Essays

• Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen by Mary Norris (Norton, April 2). Norris is widely known as the chief copyeditor of The New Yorker magazine and in this collection of essays she talks about English, words, and her love affair with all things Greek. Why I want to read this: As an avid reader, full-time copyeditor, and part-time book reviewer how could I say no to this? Norris is not only an impeccable editor but an entertaining and thoughtful writer. This is (as you might have guessed) on my must-read list for this month.
• Here Is Where I Walk: Episodes From a Life in the Forest by Leslie Carol Roberts (University of Nevada Press, April 3). In the essays collected here, Roberts muses about travel, nature, motherhood, and the environment, all linked by the time she has spent in America's only residential national park, the Presidio in San Francisco. Why I want to read this: I'm a big walker and love to spend as much time as possible in my local parks and state forests. I wonder if Roberts and I think about the same kinds of things when we're in the woods.

Humor

• The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht (Chronicle Books, April 2). Do you think you can you identify the common birds that hop around your yard and build nests in your hanging plants? Kracht bets you don't know their real names: how about the black-capped prickadee and goddamned Canada goose? Why I want to read this: I love watching the birds in my yard and tending to my bird feeders, but I also have a good sense of humor. This guide offers solid information about our feathered friends but it's served with an irreverent attitude. The illustrations (see the cover) are nicely done.
• Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite (Putnam, April 2). In this collection, Guisewite steps away from her beloved comic strip (Cathy) to talk about life and family in the sandwich years and her complex perspectives on grown children, aging parents, and retirement. Why I want to read this: I've always been a huge Cathy fan and, hey, Guisewite and I are about the same age, so I can relate. I love her viewpoint.
• Southern Lady Code: Essays by Helen Ellis (Doubleday, April 16). In her newest collection of essays, Ellis talks about, as the publisher says, "marriage and manners, thank-you notes and three-ways, ghosts, gunshots, gynecology, and the . . . art of living as a Southern Lady." Why I want to read this: Even though I'm a Yankee through and through, I'm a fan of Ellis's outlook on life. In her new book, she offers a fresh angle on being a displaced southern belle in the modern world. I'm ready to laugh.

History

• The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 9). Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, a murderer who has never been definitively identified. But who were the women he killed? What were their stories? Why I want to read this: I like true crime and want to know more about the victims whose names and lives have been overshadowed by the man who killed them. A snapshot of the dark side of the Victorian era by a historian.
• The Regency Years: During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Byron Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern by Robert Morrison (Norton, April 30). The Regency period provides an endless source of interest and is pretty much summed up by the book's subtitle. Ocean battles, global trade, the arts, new technology, and changing politics; it was a vibrant and not always pretty era. Why I want to read this: Some of my favorite authors published during this time and some of my favorite novels were set during this time. Plus I love history and always appreciate an accessible and easy-to-read account of the past.

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15 True Stories to Read This Spring

Good news for nonfiction fans: This spring is chock-full of new books that tell true stories in a full range of topics, including medicine, sports, politics, self-help, and history. I've concentrated on just four broad areas for today's round-up, and I'm highlighting books that are on my personal reading list.

Science and Nature

• Chasing New Horizons by Alan Stern and David Grinspoon (Picador; May 1): The subtitle of this fascinating story of NASA's New Horizons program says it all: "Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto." Written by the mission's principal investigator (Stern) and an astrobiologist (Grinspoon), this very readable account includes two glossy photo inserts.
• The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Steve Brusatte (William Morrow; April 24): Who doesn't love dinosaurs? Paleontologist Brusatte tells us all about their 200-million-year reign as the kings of planet Earth. His review of current dinosaur research, new fossil discoveries, and theories about their extinction is accessible, easy to follow, and well illustrated.
• The Man Who Climbs Trees by James Aldred (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; May 22): When you watch BBC nature documentaries and read your National Geographic, do you ever wonder who was behind the camera, bringing you up close and personal to nature? In this book, Aldred shares what it's like to be a nature photographer who specializes in working in the forest canopy and the tops of the world's tallest trees.
• The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World by Simon Winchester (Harper; May 8): Winchester's latest book examines how the notion of precision and the development of machines that ensured standard measures drove the Industrial Revolution and led to twenty-first-century technological wonders. Along the way, he talks about human nature, craftsmanship, and art.

Biography

• Jane and Dorothy: A True Tale of Sense and Sensibility by Marian Veevers (Pegasus; April 3): Veevers's double biography of Jane Austen and Dorothy Wordsworth compares the two women's parallel and divergent lives. They were born just four years apart and endured similar social restrictions on their creative talents but chose different solutions.
• The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair That Rocked the Crown by Penny Junor (Harper; April 10): Admit it, you're curious about the woman who changed the nature of the British royal family forever. Junor's balanced biography of Camilla presents a side of the duchess little known outside the UK.
• Francis I: The Maker of Modern France by Leonie Frieda (Harper; April 10): Frieda outlines the life of the Renaissance king who made France a mighty nation and set the foundations for its strong, enduring future. This new account of Francis I is based on archival material and is written by an experienced historical biographer.
• Visionary Women by Andrea Barnet (Ecco; March 13): Barnet outlines how four cutting-edge women changed the world by following their passions or telling their truths. The women profiled are Jane Jacobs (journalist), Rachel Carson (marine biologist), Jane Goodall (primatologist), and Alice Waters (chef/restaurateur), who continue to both inspire us and make us fully see the world around us.

Contemporary Culture

• Figures in a Landscape: People and Places by Paul Theroux (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; May 8): Besides Theroux's signature travel pieces, this collection of previously published essays includes a look at his reading life as well as surprising experiences with well-known individuals (such as surfing with Oliver Sacks!). He is always entertaining and thought-provoking.
• The Last Cowboys: A Pioneer Family in the New West by John Branch (Norton; May 15): For 150 years the Wrights have herded cattle on their Utah spread and made a name for themselves as bronco-riding rodeo champions. Branch followed the multigeneration family for three years, recording the twilight of the American West.
• The View from Flyover Country: Dispatches from the Forgotten America by Sarah Kendzior (Flatiron; April 17): Kendzior's essays add insight to why America's heartland helped place Donald Trump in the White House. The pieces look at politics, economics, racism, sexism, and the future of the country's working and middle classes.
• Unwifeable by Mandy Stadtmiller (Gallery; April 3): The essays in Stadtmiller's collection present the frank, funny, and universal story of her life as a single thirty-something woman in New York City, juggling a professional career with the messiness of dating. Stadtmiller has been called "a real-life Carrie Bradshaw."

On the Water

• Disappointment River: Finding and Losing the Northwest Passage by Brian Castner (Doubleday; March 13): This is the double story of Alexander Mackenzie's 1789 search for the Northwest Passage and author Castner's 2016 canoe journey along the same route. Castner's engrossing account presents a mix of history, travel, anthropology, and nature.
• Into the Raging Sea by Rachel Slade (Ecco; May 1) and Into the Storm by Tristram Korten (Ballentine; April 24): Both of these books look into the October 2015 sinking of the ship El Faro during Hurricane Joaquin, killing the entire crew. Slade focuses on the specifics of the disaster onboard ship as well as the event's place in the broader context of the U.S. merchant marine fleet and climate change. Korten focuses on the Coast Guard's heroic rescue of the crew of the Minouche, another ship caught in the storm, as well as its failed, desperate search for the El Faro. The two accounts together offer a well-rounded view of this tragedy.

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12 New Crime Fiction Books Written by Women

There's something about long winter nights that say crime fiction to me. Maybe it's because these books tend to draw me in completely and beg to be read in one long go, testing my solving abilities and sometimes making me get up to double-check that the doors are locked. This week I'm featuring 12 mysteries and thrillers, all written by women and published this month, to get you through snowy evenings. You'll recognize some of the titles, but I hope you find a few new books too.

• Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan (Atria/Emily Bestler Books): When a high-profile British politician and family man is accused of rape, the ensuing trial pits two women lawyers, each determined to win the case. This very timely story, told from three view points, will have you adding up the evidence to make your own guilty or not guilty declaration.
• Best Friends Forever by Margot Hunt (MIRA): When two Florida women, Kat and Alice, meet by chance while flying home, they form a tight, trusting friendship, despite their lifestyle differences. But when Kat's husband dies under questionable circumstances, Alice is forced to reassess what she really knows about her friend, especially when Kat stops answering her texts.
• Blood Sisters by Jane Corry (Pamela Dorman Books): Alison, an art teacher, still suffers from survivor's guilt after a childhood car accident left her sister brain damaged and institutionalized and their young friend dead. The women's lives are good as can be expected, until Alison starts to find notes implicating she had a role in the tragedy and someone is out for vengeance. Secrets and twists.

• The Burial Society by Nina Sadowsky (Ballantine): An American businessman is murdered in Paris, setting off a chain of events that threatens to expose his grown children's secrets. When the siblings meet a mysterious woman who heads a dark net organization that helps people disappear, they discover their family may be the target of a dangerous killer.
• In a Cottage in a Wood by Cass Green (HarperCollins): An escape to the country is just what Neve needs to set her life back on course. But the little country cottage she unexpectedly inherited isn't at all what she had envisioned. Is the house haunted or is someone playing mind games and watching her every move? What exactly drove the previous owner to suicide? A creepy psychological thriller.
• Need to Know by Karen Cleveland (Ballantine): A CIA analyst is hot on the trail of a Russian sleeper cell embedded firmly on American soil. She's about to celebrate her successful mission when she discovers one of the enemy agents is someone she knows very well: her husband. Now she must weigh family, country, and loyalties and decide on her next move without tipping her hand to anyone.

• The Other Side of Everything by Lauren Doyle Owens (Touchstone): A serial killer is targeting elderly women in a small Florida town, bringing three generations of townspeople together in unexpected ways. For the survivors, the past doesn't seem to want to stay in the past, and the prime suspect begins to worm his way into the heart of a local lonely teenager. Kirkus calls this a slow-burning thriller.
• Scones and Scoundrels by Molly MacRae (Pegasus): A killer is afoot in the small Scottish town of Inversgail, and the owners of the bookstore / tea room are among the prime suspects because the victims were patrons of their establishments. Janet and her partners must find the villain before he (or she) strikes again. This is the second installment in a twisty cozy mystery series.
• Sunday Silence by Nicci French (William Morrow): London psychologist Frieda is no stranger to crime, as she often works with the police, but this time murder and danger are hitting too close to home. While she works to keep herself and her loved ones safe, she must also try to figure out if the killer is a nemesis returned from a faked suicide or a copycat killer--or maybe there're are two men out to get her.

• The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime): Set in 1920s Bombay, this first in series introduces Perveen Mistry, one of the first woman lawyers in India. While doing the paperwork for three Muslim widows who are donating their shared inheritance to charity, Perveen smells a rat. Why would the women give up their future security and who is encouraging them to do so? Great period details.
• The Wife by Alafair Burke (Harper): This domestic thriller set in New York City has all the elements of a great read: a whirlwind romance, a wife with secrets, a husband with even more secrets, a crime, and a possible coverup. Can Angela trust her new husband and just how much is she willing to risk to insist on his innocence after one of his female interns goes missing? Solid plotting and plenty of twists.
• The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin's Press): Newly divorced from her controlling husband, Vanessa is out to prevent his remarriage to a much younger preschool teacher. Meanwhile Nellie might be having second thoughts on giving up her freewheeling party life to settle down as the perfect businessman's wife. Everyone has secrets, everyone has a story, but who is telling the truth? Read this thriller all in one go.

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8 Books at the Top of My Reading List

I sometimes always suffer from the book-lover's curse: My eyes are bigger than the time I have to read. I'm eternally optimistic about getting all the books read in a timely manner, despite a lifetime of practical experience that says otherwise. Today I feature 8 books I fully intend to read soon and tell you why I put them on my list.

• France Is a Feast by Alex Prud'Homme and Katie Pratt (Thames & Hudson, Oct. 24): Who can resist seeing Julia and Paul Child's France through 200 photographs, most of which were taken by Paul? The combination of family stories and Paul's gorgeous work makes this a book I'll long treasure.
• Gin and Panic by Maia Chance (Minotaur Books, Oct. 24): I love the premise of this fun cozy mystery set in New York during Prohibition. A high society woman and her Swedish cook work as private detectives in an atmosphere of flappers, bathtub gin, and a little murder.
• The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano (Balzer + Bray, Oct. 4): I'm curious about this fantasy, which promises to be influenced by the King Midas story. Our young hero must decide if her powers are a blessing or a curse and must foil those who wish to use her so-called gift for their own purposes.
• How I Lost You by Jenny Blackhurst (Atria, Oct. 10): I like thrillers, and this one is about a woman who is accused of killing her infant son, though she has no memory of the deed. After being released from an institution for the criminal insane, she begins to believe her son is still alive.

• Never Coming Back by Alison McGhee (HMH, Oct. 10): This mother-daughter story is set in the Adirondacks and contains several themes that usually capture my attention: family secrets, independent women, and finding home before it's too late. 
• The Relive Box and Other Stories by T. C. Boyle (Ecco, Oct. 3): I like Boyle and am curious about this collection, which promises to offer "a new way of looking at the world." Besides, one of the pieces is titled "The Five-Pound Burrito"!
• The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (HMH for Young Readers, Oct 3): This middle grade novel was suggested by my friend Diane from Book Chick Di. The story is set in Harlem and focuses on a contemporary issue with old-fashioned charm.
• You Were There before My Eyes by Maria Riva (Pegasus Books, Oct. 10): What's not to love here? A strong woman protagonist leaves her Italian village at the turn of the last century to seek the American Dream with her new husband. I'm especially interested because the story takes us to Detroit at the dawn of the auto industry.

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12 True Stories to Read in September

Hello fans of the true story. Whether you like history or biography, memoir or science, this month's new book releases include a host of great nonfiction titles. It's been difficult to narrow down the books I'm adding to my "hope to read it" list. Here are 12 I don't want to miss.

Memoir

In The Best of Us (Bloomsbury, Sept. 5), Joyce Maynard shares the joys of finally finding her true soul mate, the heartbreak of losing him before they had barely begun a life together, and the struggle to find her new place in the world after his death.

In Fire in the Heart (Arcade, Sept. 5), Mary Emerick tells us about her life as a forest-fire fighter, including the physical demands, the life-threatening dangers, and the friendships. After the death of a fellow firefighter, Emerick began to reassess her career path.

In Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies (Atria, Sept. 12), journalist Michael Ausiello uses humor to temper the darkness in this unforgettable tribute to his beloved late husband. Reviewers have commented on the emotional impact of Ausiello's story.

History

In Alone (Liveright, Sept. 19), Michael Korda turns his careful attention to the story of Dunkirk, both the horrors and death and the amazing British spirit that ultimately let to victory in Europe. His own childhood memories inform this well-researched account.

In Bloodlines (Ecco, Sept. 12), Melissa del Bosque tells the fast-faced story of how two FBI agents took on a major Mexican drug lord by going after his money-laundering scheme, which was set in the world of American Quarter Horse racing.

In The Templars (Viking, Sept. 19), Dan Jones explores the spectacular rise of a band of crusading knights to a position of wealth and power, until a king of France plotted to bring them down in a single day: Friday the 13th in October 1307. The legacy of the Templars is still felt today in the West's relationship with the Mideast and Islam.

Biography

In Darwin's Backyard (Norton, Sept. 5), James T. Costa reveals the personal side of the father of natural selection, who had a lifelong curiosity about the natural world. The book includes experiments you can conduct in your own backyard.

In The Disappearance of Emile Zola (Pegasus, Sept. 19), Michael Rosen explores the novelist's life, politics, and passions while in exile from France in the aftermath of the Dreyfus Affair. Zola's story is relevant in  light of today's sociopolitical climate.

In The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Timber Press, Sept. 20), Marta McDowell anchors the Little House books in the natural world of Laura's life and travels through the open prairies. Illustrations, photographs, maps, and botanical information round out this unique biography.

Other True Stories

In Clockwork Futures (Pegasus, Sept. 5), Brandy Schillace looks at the roots of Steampunk technology--from flying machines to automatons--including the impact the inventions and inventors had on the greater society.

In Koh-i-Noor (Bloomsbury, Sept 12), William Dalrymple and Anita Anand trace the history of one of the world's most celebrated diamonds. From the East India Company's acquisition of the jewel, the Koh-i-Noor has been steeped in controversy and myth and for some has symbolized the worst of colonialism.

In The Last Castle (Touchstone, Sept. 26), Denise Kiernan takes us inside the walls of Biltmore House to show us the world of the rich and famous who built the mansion and graced its halls. At 175,00 square feet, the chateau is the nation's largest single-family dwelling.

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12 Books to Read in April

Happy spring everyone! The weather is changing and soon we in the Northern Hemisphere will be able to relax on our porches and decks, at the pool or at the beach with our books and eReaders. If you live below the Equator, then you're looking forward to snuggling up to a fire, book in hand. Here's what I have on my eReader for April -- all 12 books come out this month and I'm sure there are several that will catch your eye.

Escape into a Story

• Beyond the Wild River by Sarah Maine (Atria): Historical fiction that takes us from rural Scotland to urban America to the wilds of Canada in the late 1800s. A father and daughter, a friendship rekindled, and maybe a little romance.
• One Good Thing by Wendy Wax (Berkley): Four women friends facing a variety of life's problems (career, marriage, parenthood) count on each other for support and solutions. Set in Florida and part of the popular Ten Beach Road series.
• The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova (Ballentine): While traveling in Bulgaria, an American woman finds herself on an increasingly dangerous mission to return a lost object to its rightful owners.

Thrills and Chills

• Gone without a Trace by Mary Torjussen (Berkley): In Liverpool, England, A man disappears so completely it's as if he never even existed. The deeper his frantic girlfriend searches for him, the more she fears for her life and sanity.
• A Twist in Time by Julie McElwain (Pegasus): The protagonist of this time-travel mystery series is FBI agent Kendra Donovan. In this outing she's stranded in 1815 England until she can clear a man from murder charges.
• Where the Dead Lie by C. S. Harris (Berkley): The latest installment of this Regency Era mystery series pits our hero, Viscount Devlin (Sebastian St. Cyr) against a London killer who is targeting homeless children.

True Stories about Ourselves and Our World

• Almost Human by Lee Berger with John Hawks (National Geographic): The thrilling true story of the discovery of a new early human species, Homo naledi, by two physical anthropologist who found the fossils, analyzed the evidence, and introduced startling new theories about our origins.
• Saving Arcadia by Heather Shumaker and James Gibson (Painted Turtle): The inspiring story of the decades-long, grass-roots fight to save and restore a community and wild area on the shores of Lake Michigan from destruction by a large corporation.
• Where the Water Goes by David Owen (Riverhead): Follow the Colorado River from source to terminus and learn how the taming of a great river has affected life in the U.S. Southwest.

Short Takes with a Global Perspective

• Red Shoes for Rachel by Boris Sandler (trans. Burnett Zumoff; Syracuse University Press): This award-winning collection of three novellas explores the postwar Moldovan Jewish experience, as colored by travel and emigration.
• Redemption of Galen Pike by Carys Davies (Bilioasis): The stories in this award-winning collection take us around the world and show us both the uniqueness of individual lives and the universal concerns that unite us all as humans.
• What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nineka Arimah (Riverhead): The overriding theme of this collection of stories is mothers and daughters and women's friendships; some incorporate magical realism and many are set in Nigeria.

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8 First Sentences: Which Book Would You Read Next?

I sometimes pick my next read based almost solely on the first line. Am the only one who does this? I bet not. Which of these books call to you after reading their opening sentence?

Chaos by Patricia Cornwell: "Beyond the brick wall bordering Harvard Yard, four tall chimneys and a gray slate roof with white-painted dormers peek through the branches of hardwood trees." (contemporary mystery; William Morrow; November 2016)

Girl in Disguise by Greer Macallister: "Like any Chicago tavern in deep summer, Joe Mulligan's stank." (historical mystery; Sourcebooks Landmark; March 2017)

The Sleeping Beauty Killer by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke: "Will the defendant please rise?" (contemporary mystery; Simon & Schuster; November 2016)

Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis: "The waters of Lake Wilhelm are dark and chilled." (contemporary suspense; Sourcebooks Landmark; January 2017)

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin: "A shaft of dawn light fell on the crack in the corner of the ceiling." (historical fiction; St. Martin's Press; November 2016)

The Homecoming by Stacie Ramey: "Standing on the high school's lacrosse field in the town I never thought I'd go back to, I wait for my turn to do the suicides." (contemporary fiction; Sourcebooks Fire; November 2016)

City of Mirrors by Melodie Johnson Howe: "Mother never owned a house." (contemporary mystery; Pegasus; 2013)

Genghis Khan and the Quest for God by Jack Weatherford: "The evening hours in a military camp belong to the revelry of the young soldiers, but the final dark hours before the sun rises belong to the old veterans, who silently stir the ashes of memory and await the light of day." (history; Viking; October 2016)

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6 Books for Nature Lovers: Reading on Topic

This year has been a good one for nature-loving readers. A number of excellent books have come to my attention, among them the following recommended titles, which I present in no particular order. What 2016 books would you add to this list?

• On Trails by Robert Moor: An experienced backpacker ponders the nature of foot travel and the evolution of established trails from animal traces to named byways. This worldwide exploration promises to be fascinating. Opening line: "Once, years ago, I left home looking for a grand adventure and spend five months staring at mud." (Simon & Schuster, July)
• Vitamin N by Richard Louv: Although this book is geared to getting your kids outside, it offeres great advice and encouragement to anyone who wants to reap the many benefits of spending time in nature. Louv provides a range of suggestions for all kinds of would-be adventurers. Opening line: "Is nature time absolutely necessary for a healthy, happy, fulfilling life?" (Algonquin, April)
• And Soon I heard a Roaring Wind by Bill Streever: You can't see it, but you can feel it and sometimes you can see the results of its power. Using his own sailing experiences as a foundation, Streever studies wind through the lenses of history and science. Opening line: "Aboard the sailing yacht Rocinante, the north wind shrieks through the rigging." (Little, Brown, July)

• Sixty Degrees North by Malachy Tallack: This is a gorgeously written series of essays about the author's journey around the world at the 60-degree latitude line, which crosses his Shetland home. Recommended for those of us who love the northern climes, the outdoor life, anthropology, and history. Opening line: "I can remember the day: silver skied and heavy with rain." (Pegasus, July)
• The Wander Society by Keri Smith: A fun guide to enhancing your ability to wander and observe. As useful to urban dwellers as it to wilderness adventurers. Opening line: "About two years ago, I was browsing in a favorite dusty old bookshop, one that I frequent when I am in need of a random book find." (Penguin, March)
• Under the Stars by Dan White: Most kids and many adults love going camping, and this has been the case in the United States throughout its history. Mixing personal experience with a historical and sociocultural perspective, White explores the camping movement from the nineteenth-century Transcendentalists to today's RV'ing. Opening line: "I love camping." (Henry Holt, June)

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12 Books to Read in April

I often talk about the physical (print) books on my reading list, but I sometimes forget to let you know what's new on my eReader. Here are 12 books (all to be published in April) that caught my attention.

Traveling to New Places

• The Alaskan Laundry by Brendan Jones: Set in Alaska, this novel follows Tara Marconi's transformation from Philadelphia athlete and baker to commercial fisherman in the harsh northern latitudes. Themes: friendship, self-discovery, new starts (Mariner Books) • Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjie Divakaruni: Set in India and America, this is the story of three generations of women whose choices have unexpected consequences. Themes: mothers & daughters, cultural expections (Simon & Schuster) • Chasing the North Star by Robert Morgan: Set in the 1850s, this novel follows the journey of Jonah Williams who escapes from his South Carolina plantation to find freedom in the north. Themes: human spirit, friendship, survival (Algonquin). • A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry: Set in Puerto Rico, this murder mystery finds its foundation in folklore and tales of the "girl filled with poison," who may or may not be dangerous. Themes: first love, culture clash, folk beliefs (Algonquin Books for Young Readers)

Nonfiction Picks

• Jungle of Stone by William Carlsen: This is the true story of the early-1800s discovery of the fabled cities of the ancient Maya. Facing an unforgiving environment, two men survived a 2,500-mile journey to tell the world of their discoveries. History (William Morrow) • The Last Voyageurs by Lorraine Baoissoneault: In 1976 a group of Midwestern teens and high school teachers set out to reenact the 3,300-mile journey of French explorer La Salle. This is the story of their adventure told against the backdrop of the original 1680 expedition. History, travel (Pegasus) • The Path by Michael Puett and Christine Gros-Loh: Written for the general public, this book is based on Harvard professor Puett's very popular Chinese philosophy class, which has transformed the lives of hundreds of students. Philosophy (Simon & Schuster) • Pistols and Petticoats by Erika Janik: The subtitle tells it all--"175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction." This book explores the trials and tribulations of the strong women who found a place in real-life law enforcement or in the pages of crime novels. Women's issues (Beacon Press)

Family and Women

• The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley Ray: Set in 1948 in Australia, this is the story of a young widow trying to come to terms with life as a single parent and a World War II veteran whose poetry seems to have been bled away. Themes: healing, moving forward, friendship (Atria) • Sunday's on the Phone to Monday by Christine Reilly: Set over thirty years in New York City, this is the story of a couple and then a family settling into its maturity. Themes: sisters, loyalty, family love (Touchstone) • Three-Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell: Set in the late 1950s in New York City, this novel centers on three young adults whose publishing dreams--as authors or editors--are tested by personal choices and cultural expectations. Themes: ambition, friendship, the price of success (Putnam) • The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke: Set during modern times, this novel gives three fifty-year-old best friends a do-over of their fortieth year. What would they do differently? Themes: friendship, choices, fate (Washington Square Press)

What's on your eReader for April?

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Today's Read: Saint Brigid's Bones by Philip Freeman

What if the livelihood of your entire community depended on your ability to solve a mystery? Sister Deirdre has been tapped by her abbess to find the missing bones of her convent's most holy nun. Without the relics, the pilgrimages will cease, plunging the sisters into poverty.

I never meant to burn down the church.

That's what I kept telling myself as I stood in front of Sister Anna's hut.

—Saint Brigid's Bones: A Celtic Adventure by Philip Freeman (Pegasus, 2014, p. 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: Ireland, 6th century
• Circumstances: When the bones of Sister Brigid, who would later become a patron saint of Ireland, disappear from the convent's church, Sister Deirdre is put in charge of the investigation
• Characters: Sister Deirdre and members of her secular family; Sister Dari, her friend; Sister Anna, the abbess; other nuns; a neighboring abbot and his monks; King Dulaing and his sons; various outlaws, farmers, and townsfolk
• Genre: historical mystery
• Themes: family, women's place in early Christianity, competing belief systems
• Why I want to read this: I haven't started this yet, but the character of Sister Deirdre intrigues me: she was once married and a nobelwoman, she was raised by a druid grandmother, and she was trained as a bard. I'm curious why she decided to become nun and how and why she burned down the church. I'm drawn to the setting of Medieval Ireland, and I love a good mystery.
• Miscellaneous: The author is a Celtic scholar; thus the period details should be accurate

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