Mystery
Anxious people : a novel
Fredrik Backman
FICTION Backman Fredrik
Diverse Characters, Humor, Mystery
Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers--including a redemption-seeking bank director, two couples who would fix their marriages, and a plucky octogenarian--discover their unexpected common traits.
Hokuloa Road
Elizabeth Hand
MYSTERY Hand Elizabet
Fiction, Mystery
"On a whim, Grady Kendall applies to work as a live-in caretaker for a luxury property in Hawai'i, as far from his small-town Maine life as he can imagine. Within days he's flying out to an estate on remote Hokuloa Road, where he quickly uncovers a dark side to the island's idyllic reputation: It has long been a place where people vanish without a trace. When a young woman named Jessie from his flight becomes the next to disappear, Grady is determined - and soon desperate - to figure out what happened to her, and to all those staring out of the island's 'missing' posters. But working with Raina, Jessie's fiercely protective best friend, to uncover the truth is anything but easy, and with an inexplicable and sinister presence stalking his every step, Grady can only hope he'll find the answer before it's too late." -- From jacket flap.
Elizabeth Hand consistently writes interesting mysteries that have an uncanny weirdness to them, and in Hokuloa Road you get that plus the beautiful setting of Hawaii, with flora, fauna, customs, and lore. Our protagonist, Grady, is a laid-back good guy who gets the job of a lifetime, but soon finds himself enmeshed in a situation that seems to defy explanation, but requires him to keep sleuthing. There are many likable characters here, as well as a satisfying ending. -Candice
The unwedding
Allyson Braithwaite Condie
FICTION Condie Allyson
Mystery
"Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world. She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth? But now she's traveling solo. To add insult to injury, there's a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn't certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling. When Ellery discovers the body of the groom floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it's clear something horrible is brewing. Everyone at Broken Point has a secret. And everyone has a shadow. Including Ellery"--
Ellery Wainwright is trying to get away from her mess of her life by taking the vacation to a resort in Big Sur she originally planned to take with her now ex-husband to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary they never made it to. She knows that this isn't going to be a great vacation--but better her on her own than her ex with his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, there is a wedding also scheduled for this same weekend. But Ellery doesn't get too much time to fester in her self-loathing and unhappiness--the groom is murdered. And there is a storm cutting off access to a resort. Anyone could be the murderer and anyone could be their next victim. Super fun read! -Anne M
The Hotel Balzaar
Kate DiCamillo
jFICTION Dicamill Kate
Fiction, Mystery, Kids, Early Chapter Books, Picture Books, Short Story
At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta's mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly like a little mouse. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story--in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father's disappearance lie in the countess's tales? --
I am beyond excited for another Júlia Sardà illustrated title! I cannot wait to read this collaboration with incredible storyteller, Kate DiCamillo. -Casey
A mischief of mice
Christie Matheson
jE Matheson
Mystery, Kids, Picture Books, Animals, Nature
A menagerie of forest animals, whose temperaments match their collective nouns, try to solve the mystery of a missing group of mice.
Collective animal nouns, a mysterious disappearance, and beautiful autumnal illustrations make Christie Matheson's latest title for perfect storytime sharing this season! -Casey
The perfect couple
Elin Hilderbrand
FICTION Hilderbrand, Elin
Fiction, Chick Lit, Mystery
It's Nantucket wedding season, also known as summer-the sight of a bride racing down Main Street is as common as the sun setting at Madaket Beach. The Otis-Winbury wedding promises to be an event to remember: the groom's wealthy parents have spared no expense to host a lavish ceremony at their oceanfront estate. But it's going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons after tragedy strikes: a body is discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony-and everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect. As Chief of Police Ed Kapenash interviews the bride, the groom, the groom's famous mystery-novelist mother, and even a member of his own family, he discovers that every wedding is a minefield-and no couple is perfect.
Anyone else watching the Perfect Couple Netflix series? They did a great job staying true to the book set on beautiful Nantucket, which soon becomes more tarnished with every page turn (or scene). Elin Hilderbrand and the producers of the show do a good job of developing the characters and bringing the book characters to life on the screen all of which will keep you guessing in this Agatha Christie style whodunit. -Angie
Small Things Like These
Clair Keegan
"It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church." --
Ooh! Excited for this film adaption of a book that unfolded like a movie in my mind! Here's a description of the film: While making a delivery to the local convent, devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) makes a shocking discovery. Christmas 1985 in small town Ireland is going to take a turn for this working class family. In this unflinching look at the Magdalene laundries, workhouses for unwed mothers run by the Catholic Church, Bill must confront the complicity of his town and the harm done by the church he was raised in. Adapted from Claire Keegan's award-winning historical fiction novel of the same name by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, this powerful drama examines the personal and historical truths that shaped a people. -Katie
The lost boy of Santa Chionia
Juliet Grames
FICTION Grames Juliet
Fiction, Mystery
"Calabria, 1960. Francesca Loftfield, a twenty-seven-year-old, starry-eyed American, arrives in the isolated mountain village of Santa Chionia tasked with opening a nursery school. There is no road, no doctor, no running water or electricity. And thanks to a recent flood that swept away the post office, there's no mail, either. Most troubling, though, is the human skeleton that surfaced after the flood waters receded. Who is it? And why don't the police come and investigate? When an old woman begs Francesca to help determine if the remains are those of her long-missing son, Francesca begins to ask a lot of inconvenient questions. As an outsider, she might be the only person who can uncover the truth. Or she might be getting in over her head. As she attempts to juggle a nosy landlady, a suspiciously dashing shepherd, and a network of local families bound together by a code of silence, Francesca finds herself forced to choose between the charitable mission that brought her to Santa Chionia, and her future happiness, between truth and survival. Set in the wild heart of Calabria, a land of sheer cliff faces, ancient tradition, dazzling sunlight--and one of the world's most ruthless criminal syndicates--The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia is a suspenseful puzzle mystery, a captivating romance, and an affecting portrait of a young woman in search of a meaningful life"--
There are many things I really loved about this book--the early-60s time period, the remote location in the mountains of southern Italy, the insular community the protagonist finds herself in, and of course, the missing people that she tries to track down. Author Juliet Grames takes her time telling the story, giving the reader succinct and vivid descriptions of the place and the people, and her writing feels fresh--nothing gets glossed over, nothing feels improbable, and it's all interesting. -Candice
A botanist's guide to parties and poisons
Kate Khavari
MYSTERY Khavari Kate
Mystery, Suspense, Adventure, Science
London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn't expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors' wives to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron's mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition's departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor's name cleared, she'll have to do it herself.
I devoured the first two Botanist's Guide books last summer and was pleasantly surprised to find that the latest installment is here! It did not disappoint. If you have yet to try any of the Saffron Everleigh series and enjoy dark academia or murder mysteries, now might be the time to start at the beginning! -Casey
Roy is not a dog
Esmé Shapiro
jE Shapiro
Picture Books, Mystery, Animals
"On Lilypod Lane, everyone knows everything about everybody . . . or so they believe! When curious paperboy Weasel encounters his mysterious neighbor Roy on his route, he becomes convinced that Roy is actually a dog!"--
Dogs are people too! Wonderful storytelling and adorable illustrations abound in this latest from Esme Shapiro and Daniel Newell Kaufman. -Casey
As a self-proclaimed "anxious person," I can attest that this Fredrik Backman novel is perfect for readers looking for a relatable story that explores the complexities of being human in a world that won't stand still. With a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, "Anxious People" is rich in humor, wit, and surprise twists. -Madison C