I hope everyone had a good holiday season. It was restful but now the work has piled up and time has passed and I am running behind. The LibraryReads list came out this week - the list of the top 10 books that librarians have picked that come out in February so.....on with the list.
Number one is a title by one of my favorite authors - Anne Tyler. A Spool of Blue Thread comes out on February 10th. Tyler has said this will be her last book which makes me very sad but this is also the 50th year of her writing career so I guess I can understand. Tyler's tales are always filled with quirky characters whom you grow to love. Many of hers are the ones where you hate for it to end. This is the story of a three generations of a family, their secrets and their memories. It ought to be a good one.
The rest in no particular order:
A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott comes out on February 17th. This novel takes place during the making of Gone With the Wind and follows an aspiring screenwriter who becomes Carole Lombard's assistant. Julie Crawford observes both the on screen romance between Rhett and Scarlet and the real life romance between Clark Gable and Lombard. Based on historical facts with fictional encounters, it is said to be a very entertaining read.
My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh comes out on February 10th. This is a coming of age tale which centers around Lindy, a 15 year old free spirt, track star and normal teen who is raped coming home from track practice. The rapist is not caught. The story is told from the viewpoint of a teen boy who was and is obsessed with Lindy. The story focuses on each person who may have committed the crime and why. An unreliable narrator, a violent crime and a small 'ideal' neighborhood. Quite a debut for Walsh.
The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn is out on January 27th - which is almost February. This is number four of the Smythe-Smith Quartet . This title focuses on Iris. As you could probably tell from the title, this is a historical romance. Sir Richard has to be married almost immediately and set his eyes on Iris when he went to the Smythe-Smith musicale. Iris is suspicious and the plot is Kenworthy trying to win her over while having a'dark' secret. A fun romance.
Half the World by Joe Abercrombie comes out on February 17th. This is the second in the Shattered Sea series, following Half a King. If you have read the first one, this one will be almost required reading. Many characters return from the first title. Yarvi must cross the shatter sea to stop the High King from invading Gettland. He enlists some misfits for the voyage. Among them is Thorn, the young girl who would be a woman warrior. Danger and adventure awaits them in this high fantasy.
Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon comes out on February 24th. This title is psychological suspense in the vein of Reconstructing Amelia or Defending Jacob. Simon Connolly is a stay at home dad. The children are now teens but he is still anxious. Then, a shooting is reported at the school. He goes to the rendezvous point but Jake is the only one who doesn't come out. What has happened? What went wrong?
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab comes out on February 24th. This is the beginning of a fantasy series by a popular fantasy author. London is the link between parallel universes and the magician Kell is one of two Travelers who can move between them. Grey London is dirty and boring and ruled by mad King George; Red London is where life and magic are revered; White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne; and once there was a Black London. Kell flees into Grey London having been caught smuggling people between worlds and gets in trouble. His only ally is a thief.
A Murder of Magpies by Judith Flanders on February 24th. This is a funny debut mystery novel with an original heroine. Samantha, a British book editor, has a best selling author who goes missing after writing a tell - all book. Someone doesn't want this book to be published. Reviewers found this a great, entertaining read.
The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman comes out on February 24th. Sadly, Franklin died while writing this tour-de-force mystery. Luckily her daughter help finish it. Franklin is probably best know for her Mistress of the Art of Death series. This one is a historical mystery that takes place in the 1100's. during England's devastating civil war between King Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda. A young 11 year old red headed girl, Emma, is attacked by a depraved monk and left for dead. She is found by an archer, Gwyl, who heals her and dresses her as a boy. This tale of adventure and the battle for the crown, is told by two courageous young women. I will have to read this book as I loved Franklin.
Lastly, Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King comes on February 17th. This is in her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. It is 1925 and Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes arrive home to find a stone which they last saw in the Tokyo garden of the future emperor of Japan. It is their first indication that perhaps the investigation that they did for him was not complete. More Sherlockian fun for all
Seems to me that there is almost something for everyone in this month's list. I hope you find something you would like to read.
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