Staff Picks
November/December
The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore
When 17-year-old Barbara Van Laar goes missing from the camp in the Adirondacks owned and run by her family for generations, memories resurface regarding the mysterious disappearance of her older brother Bear 14 years before. Bear was never found nor his disappearance ever solved. Assigned to Barbara’s case, female detective, Judyta, begins to uncover story holes and lies with both investigations. As she deals with her own problems of discrimination, misogyny, and over protective parents, Judyta gradually uncovers the secrets of the wealthy, dysfunctional Van Laar family and the townspeople under their thumb. Moving back and forth from the 1950s to the 1970s, the story unfolds at a slow burn, with multiple plot twists, and a surprising conclusion that you won’t see coming.
~ Mary
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
It was just another ordinary day for Arthur Dent, a British man from Earth –until a demolition crew showed up outside his house, ready to tear it down for a hyperspace bypass. In fact, after being rescued by his friend Ford Perfect, a secret researcher for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy from a nearby planet, Arthur learns that the entire Earth is scheduled for demolition.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy follows Arthur and his new group of space hitchhikers as they wander the universe in search for the Meaning of Life and, at a much later point, dinner.
This phenomenal science fiction classic is the perfect book for anyone seeking adventure –or, even more so, for those who prefer to avoid it.
~ Reana
Strong Female Protagonist Books 1 & 2
written by Brennan Lee Mulligan
illustrated by Molly Ostertag
I love superhero stories. But what I love more than the violence and the punching is philosophical questions about the morality and ethics of superheroism and the dichotomy of good and evil. As always, Brennan Lee Mulligan gives me everything I want.
Alison is a retired superhero who’s just trying to get her liberal arts degree as an alternative way to save the world. But her super strength, the consequences of her “heroic” actions, and all the world’s suffering mean she’s unable to ignore her past. Do the ends justify the means? Does great power mean great responsibility? Do you have an obligation to help others even at great personal expense? Alison doesn’t know. But she’s trying to figure it out. The sardonically titled Strong Female Protagonist is funny, thoughtful, and heartbreaking all at once. The comic is on indefinite hiatus while Mulligan and Ostertag work on other projects, so get ready to be disappointed (but it’s worth it).
~ Kyoko
The Dead Guy Next Door
by Lucy Score
This series is so much fun and one I reread all of the time! The story follows Riley Thorn, a reluctant psychic living in a communal home in Pennsylvania with a bunch of elderly roommates. Nick Santiago is a private investigator who finds himself investigating Riley after one of her grouchy old roommates is murdered. They find themselves working together to solve the most chaotic mysteries, alongside Mrs. Penny, an eighty-something wannabe PI and her other roommates. There’s murder, kidnapping, scary grandmothers, a cow, and glitter bombs. Dead Guy Next Door is book one in a four-book series, each one crazier than the last. It is definitely a laugh out loud romance with fabulous characters!
~ Myra
Extinction
by Douglas Preston
Jurassic Park, but with mammals! A secluded valley in Colorado with a state of the art research facility and of course a top notch resort. Twisty and turny, suspensful and thrilling, and at times gruesome, it is a read that hooks you from page one and holds on tight. A newley pregnant and ultra wealthy couple vacationing at the resort are found murdered in the remote valley just feet from their sleeping tour guide. The murders are brutal, but with the bodies missing the heads and no blood to be found, this can’t be the work of animals. Have murderers managed to find their way into the secluded valley, or is something else more sinister going on at the research facility?
~ Lisa
Down with the System
by Serj Tankian
Lead vocalist of the band System of a Down, Serj Tankian, tells of his youth in Lebanon before fleeing from war and his family’s descent to California. Serj recalls how his Armenian descent, his family’s stories and experiences recanting the unfortunate events of the Armenian genocide radicalized him from a young age. His memoir explores the formation of System of a Down and how Tankian’s sometimes outspoken beliefs caused tension between his bandmates. Down with the System: A Memoir is yet another example of Tankian’s political intellect and expression.
~ Anna
The Block Party
by Jamie Day
The residents of affluent Alton Road are the talk of the town; the secrets and scandals of the seemingly-perfect Altonites provide endless fodder for the local online community page. But the secrets go deeper than anyone could have imagined.
The book begins in the present day at the exclusive Alton Road annual block party, where a murder has taken place. As speculation spreads through the online community as to who has been killed and who the perpetrator could be, the reader is taken through the events and scandals of the last year, alternating between the perspectives of wife and mother Alex, the organizer of the annual block party who is slowly unraveling, and her daughter Lettie, who has just been suspended from school for vandalism. From affairs, voyeurism, and paternity drama to drugs, drunken rages and revenge plots, this domestic thriller is packed with drama and will leave you wondering about the secrets that could be lurking in your own neighborhood.
The residents of affluent Alton Road are the talk of the town; the secrets and scandals of the seemingly-perfect Altonites provide endless fodder for the local online community page. But the secrets go deeper than anyone could have imagined.
~ Melissa
Starter Villain
by John Scalzi
A divorced substitute teacher living with a cat is thrust into a world of comical James Bond villainy, when his uncle suddenly, and mysteriously, dies. Charlie must learn to navigate his uncle’s supervillain empire as well as process that cat spies and unionizing dolphins exist while dodging nefarious plots in order to stay alive. John Scalzi’s spy thriller is an action-packed comedy with sharp writing and an engaging storyline. It’s a really fun read that doesn’t take itself too seriously and still manages to explore the themes of power, responsibility, and what it means to be good or evil. I highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for something to read that’s short and amusing.
~ Jenny