Staff Choices

Weaving several different storylines together, Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty asks the question, what would you do if you knew when and how you’d die? Would you make any changes? Are you truly happy with the life you’re living now? 

On a flight from Sydney to Hobart, a woman stands and begins predicting each passenger’s date and cause of death. Some are far in the future from natural causes while others are rather close and from less natural and more traumatic causes. These six unlucky passengers must disembark and decide whether they believe the ‘Death Lady’ as she’s soon called. As some of her predictions begin to come true, the hunt for the Death Lady begins. 

An unremarkable everywoman, the Death Lady has a story of her own, which is brilliantly woven into the story of these six strangers (Who might not be as far removed from one another as they thought). Is she a real psychic? Why was she on that flight that day? So many questions, but just as many answers with a poignant and satisfying end. 

Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher is a historical supernatural Christmas romantasy set in mid-nineteenth century York, England. After her father's sudden passing from diabetes complications and her mother falling catatonic after a seance, young Lizzy Grimm runs the family curio store on her own. As Lizzy struggles to make ends meet and repay her family's mounting debts, she encounters two men who will change her life forever: Ambrose Stoke, who has a strangely intense interest in some mysterious old books in the shop, and Antony Carlisle, a lord-to-be whose younger sister bears an uncanny resemblance to the condition of Lizzy's mother. In this novel that is part ghost story, part mystery, and has a generous helping of romance, Lizzy must save her family, her livelihood, and her heart's desire, all before Christmas. Really, with all that going on, what's a girl to do?

A note: Despite the title, the novel has no connection to the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, except for the fact that Lizzy's paternal relatives originally hail from Bavaria. The book actually draws upon Yule lore, perfect for a supernatural Christmas/Yuletide read.

Something I very much enjoyed about the book is Fisher's use of location-specific terminology. Research is very important to Fisher, and she includes both a glossary at the beginning of the book to introduce York-specific vocabulary (ex. 'ginnel' and 'snicket'), as well as a list of research references in the acknowledgements for readers who want to learn more about York and its fascinating history. Similarly, Fisher is very good at creating a sense of place. The descriptions of alleys, interior spaces, and fantastical landscapes are easily imagined from her writing, and remain the best-remembered aspects of the novel, along with the visual descriptions of ghosts and folkloric creatures, such as the mythological 'printer's devil.'

The romance aspect is very much a slow-burn, and the pacing picks up once Croft & Croft is introduced. Charlie Croft is one of my personal favorite characters in this novel. Perhaps if Fisher makes this into a series, there can be a book about Charlie next? Those who enjoy C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, Holly Black and Sarah Rees Brennan's tales of the fae, Jane Austen's literary works, The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan, and/or Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh may also enjoy this novel.

A Vile Season by David Ferraro is a period vampire story with a twist. Often, these novels tend to follow a human encountering or trying to become a vampire, or, more recently, vampires who become curious about the humans they devour--not to mention the entire vampire sub-genre of paranormal romances. While all of these elements are indeed included in this book, the vampire protagonist Count Lucian Cross has a rather different problem. After being chased from his castle by an angry mob of vampire hunters, he makes a deal with the vampire god, Vrykolakas, to save his hide: Lucian will become human again in order to go undercover on a mission for vampire-kind--he is to find the identities of his attackers and win the hand of Ambrose Harclay, the eldest son and heir to the ailing Duke Harclay. In return, Vrykolakas will not only make Lucian a vampire once more, Lucian will will be even more powerful than before. However, a mission that should have been simple quickly becomes complicated as Lucian is beset by former soured relations, becomes embroiled in the mystery of Ambrose's missing middle brother, Emmett, and finds himself increasingly drawn to the youngest Harclay brother, Maxwell... What do you mean, there are consequences for one's actions?

Set in fantasy England during an unspecified historical time period, this novel combines mystery and the paranormal with a well-balanced ratio of romantic subplot. Referencing classic vampire tropes, such as shape-shifting, a sensitivity to garlic and crosses, and a fatal allergy to the sun, Ferraro pays homage to the original Gothic vampire tales readers know and love while putting his own spin on the genre. He adds colorful balls and game-show-esque challenges to the competition to become Ambrose's betrothed. This is not to say that there aren't also mysterious crypts, ghostly cemeteries, hidden passageways, and secret societies--there's plenty of those, too! This well-paced and adventurous novel, with its quirky cast of characters, will keep the reader engaged from dramatic start to happy end. This was an overall quite entertaining read! I will likely seek out Ferraro's other work in the future.

Readers interested in other vampire tales may enjoy Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll, and Renfield (dir. Chris McKay). For those interested in neo-Gothic works, try Crimson Peak (dir. Guillermo del Toro) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. For another new LGBTQIA+ fantasy mystery, try Voyage of the Damned by Frances White.

What is a Sociopath? Do you know? Are you sure? Thanks to Sociopath by Patric Gagne, I’ve now learned what I thought it was and what it is, isn’t entirely correct. And that there are some major but also subtle differences between clinical diagnosis and pop culture portrayals. Which is the main reason Gagne wrote this book. 

Sociopath is a memoir that follows the life of Patric Gagne, the daughter of a high-powered music executive, as she struggles with her lack of ‘normal’ emotional responses. It’s also the story of her path to getting a true diagnosis for sociopathy at a time when none really existed. 

As a person with high anxiety and a lot of emotions, I found this book incredibly fascinating.

Water, a drop to be exact, begins this captivating novel. Elif Shafak takes us from the River Tigress to the Thames, from Mesopotamia to the present. She ties together the importance of water in so many lives throughout the centuries. It begins with King Ashurbanipal in the ancient kingdom of Nineveh, then moves onto a baby named Arthur, born in the slums along the Thames in 1840's London. Modern day stories intertwine with ancient tales with Narin, a young Yazidi girl in Turkey as well as Zaleekah a professor in London. These characters all seem to be struggling with their past as well as their futures, but each one has a relationship to the waterways that surround them. There are Rivers in the Sky intricately weaves together the way water connects us all through our histories and memories. And, it all begins with one drop. 

If you love a grand, epic tale that spans centuries, you will love this book. I certainly did.

 It is a compelling story but the spiritual journey of several of main characters towards acceptance is beautifully portrayed and not at all heavy handed or preachy. Once I started reading, I could not stop until I finished. Krueger does an excellent job in a few sentences of reminding the reader of who the main characters are and the back story without rehashing the previous stories. He also weaves in the tragedy of missing Native women and the destruction wrought by the greed of the oil industry. This is book 20 in the Cork O'Connor series.

After the tragic death of her dear friend, Sadie Green upends her life in Chicago by purchasing a bicycling touring company in France. Owning this type of business is a dream they both once shared. By following through, Sadie feels she is honoring her friend. But nothing is ever smooth on the road to starting a new enterprise, moving to a new country or learning a new language, or organizing a trek. Sadie and her tour participants quickly encounter the death of one of the cyclists . . . and so the mystery begins.

The tour has a diverse cast of characters including Sadie’s former colleagues from Chicago, her current employees and a man who poses as an incognito travel reviewer who all provide an interesting backdrop to how events unfold. Descriptions of picturesque countryside and famous landmarks had me looking at online maps to see where they were traveling. There is no need to be a cyclist to enjoy reading A Cyclists Guide to Crime & Croissants – just have a sense of adventure and want to try to figure out what happened.

This is the first book in the Cyclist’s Guide Mystery series. The second book is expected to be released in May 2025. Pick up a copy if you’re looking for a new cozy mystery to read, have visited France (or want to) or if you’ve enjoyed author Ann Claire’s Christie Bookshop Mysteries.

O.O. Sangoyomi’s debut novel, Masquerade is my top read of 2024, taking the lead right at the buzzer! Full of lush descriptions, feminine power and a satisfying end, this is a must read for fans of Greek mythology retellings.  

A very loose retelling of Persephone and Hades, Masquerade is set in pre-colonial West Africa. The story follows Òdòdó, a beautiful and talented blacksmith with the ability to make flowers from metal, as she is stolen from her homeland of Timbuktu and brought to the bustling city of Yorùbáland. Òdòdó has spent her life on the periphery, considered a witch and therefore low status. As the future queen of Yorùbáland, she winds a path of self-discovery; navigating a cutthroat world of power and prestige. 

If you enjoy Madeline Miller or Vaishnavi Patel, you’ll want to add this to your list. I couldn’t put it down! 

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a Gothic faerie tale set in a fantasy Victorian England. Winifred, or Winnie, an orphan pulled from a traumatic workhouse by a noble benefactor, is called away from London to Witchwood Manor as a favor to the dowager Lady Longfell, ostensibly to be a governess to the lady's grandson, Robert. In truth, Winnie is a black magician specializing in cartomancy, and her true task is to protect Robert from the faerie curse placed on the manor, which is tied to the mysterious Witchwood Knot. Armed with her wits, her magic, and her loyal ghostly feline familiar, Winnie's mission is complicated by the contrarian young Robert, his truly creepy father, and the mysterious butler-who-is-and-is-not a butler, Mr. Quincy.

This novel, the first in a series, draws on several mythologies for its inspiration--mostly from Celtic mythology, and a dash of Beauty and the Beast. Atwater's book is chock-full of detail; given the historical background she provides for her books, as well as her own personal interest in history, this was one of best parts in the book. This is also a book suited for fans of historical fantasy with a romantic subplot, or fans of romantasy with a subdued romance. Atwater does include a content warning at the beginning of the book, so wary readers are advised to glance at it before proceeding. Highlights of this book include its dark faerie tale elements and sardonic, witty heroine. Atwater's previous series (Regency Faerie Tales) may add extra world-building context.

Fans of Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Sarah J. Maas, and The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert would likely enjoy this novel. 

Into the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah is a book about nostalgia and imagination, for readers of all ages, to be read solo or in the company of others. On the surface, it seems to be merely a whimsical story about a young boy and his wise teddy bear, Walter, who go on an adventure "into the uncut grass," the unknown lands beyond the boy's house, because the boy disagrees with his mother's rules. While it is indeed an adventure story, it is also a tale about seeing the world from other perspectives, and trying new ideas as a result. The snails and coins that the boy meets are reminiscent of Aesop's fables, while his other encounters hark back to childhood favorites, such as "We're Going on a Bear Hunt."

Inspired by his relationship with his own mother, Trevor Noah leans into his sentimental and thought-provoking perspectives to tell a story both heartwarming and poignant. The tone in this book is different from his humorous memoir, Born a Crime, but the effect is one of universality, rather than specificity. Everyone can take something away from this book, even if it's just a sudden desire for waffles.

Fans of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry; The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy; and Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne will likely enjoy Into the Uncut Grass, as will fans of cozy, feel-good adventure stories. (Readers who liked The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune may also enjoy the gnome cameo and the other quirky characters in this book.) Sabine Hahn's whimsical illustrations also bring to mind the works of Quentin Blake.