November New Popular Books

The following new books have been added this month to the Popular Reading Collection located next to the circulation desk.   These books and any other titles currently checked out can be placed on hold.
See a staff member at the circulation desk for assistance.

 

Blue Smoke, by Nora Roberts
Iron Orchid, by Stuart Woods
The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly
At First Sight, by Nicholas Sparks
Predator, by Patricia Cornwell
Gabriel's Angel, by Nora Roberts
The Camel Club, by David Baldacci
Ordinary Heroes, by Scott Turow
Rendezvous at Kamakura Inn, by Marshall Browne



This Month's Great Escapes
by Bill McCleary


Cross Bones, by Kathy Reichs

This is the eighth book in the series that features Tempe Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina and Montreal.  Tempe is working in Montreal when she is called in to determine if a Jewish man has committed suicide or was murdered.   Tempe decides in favor of murder—which gets her boyfriend, detective Andrew Ryan, involved in the case.   It looks like the murder is linked to the long ago disappearance of an ancient set of bones that were excavated in Israel and have now surfaced in Montreal.  As Tempe and Andrew investigate, they are shocked to learn that the bones may be those of Jesus.  To get to the truth, they must travel to the source—which means a trip to Israel and some harrowing experiences for Tempe.  If you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code you might like this novel—which weaves fact and fiction into an entertaining read.


The Hot Kid, by Elmore Leonard

The hot kid is one Carl Webster, a young federal marshal.  Born in 1906, Carl grew up in Oklahoma—becoming a hot shot—both with a gun and with his demeanor.  Running and protecting his dad’s cattle operation, Carl, at fifteen, once shot a rustler at four hundred yards.  Now, it’s the 1930s, times are hard, and bank robbing is the new growth industry.  Carl is working out of the Tulsa office and he has his hands full.  It’s a rather lawless time with robbers like Bonnie and Clyde considered amateurs by the likes of Pretty Boy Floyd and his cohorts.  Carl is making some headway—and headlines—when he runs up against Jack Belmont.  Jack grew up rich, lazy, and spoiled.  His father, a wealthy banker and oilman, finally loses his patience and gives Jack the boot after he deliberately blows up an oil storage tank.  Bored and restless, Jack first tries a kidnapping scheme to earn some easy money. When that doesn’t work, he decides to move on to robbing banks—which will lead him to a showdown with Carl.  Leonard's latest is a terrific read and this era is a wonderful time period to return to now and then.
 

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, by Alexander McCall Smith

Meet Precious Ramotswe of Gaborone, Botswana.  Precious, a ‘traditional size’ woman, is the proprietor of the Number 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.  When her father died and left her a valuable herd of cattle, Precious was able to start her business, using a how-to book as her guide.  After a rather rocky start, she has managed to keep her business afloat and even has an assistant detective/secretary, Grace Makutsi, a single woman.  Things are going well for our detectives—there is an interesting case that they have been handed to work on—but soon each lady will be faced with a momentous personal decision.  For Precious, an unwanted figure from her past will come back into her life.  And, for Grace, love will come dancing in.  This is the sixth book in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.  If you haven’t read the previous books you can still start with this one—but you would be missing a lot of the joys of this wonderful, interesting, warm-hearted series.  On a personal note, I’d like to make a public thank you to Evelyn Ward, who has kindly loaned me the previous books in this series.  I’ve enjoyed every one—and I think you will, too.


The Assassin’s Touch, by Laura Joh Rowland

Opening Rowland’s latest novel transports us back in time to May 1695 in Edo, Japan.  It’s an unsettled period; after an epic battle for power, Lord Matsudaira has emerged victorious over Lord Yanagisawa, who has been banished.  Matsudaira, however, has not yet consolidated his position and remnants of his opponent are still vying for power with the shogun, a weak man who prefers to leave the running of his country to his subordinates.  Sano Ichiro, our hero, previously the palace’s chief criminal investigator, has been promoted to Yanagisawa’s old job of chamberlain.  In his investigator job, Sano had to walk a nerve-racking tightrope among many competing palace factions.  With his promotion, and the elimination of Yanagisawa, one of his most powerful enemies, Sano hopes to finally have some peace and calm in his life.  Well, no such luck!  An assassin has begun murdering high ranking officials that Matsudaira has promoted into key positions, which is undermining his control of the government.  Although Sano is no longer the palace investigator, he is ordered to find the assassin.  Failure is not an option.  Meanwhile, Sano’s wife, Reiko, is asked by her father, a judge, to try to determine if a strange young woman is guilty of the murders of her parents and sister.  This is one of my favorite series and The Assassin’s Touch is a great addition.



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Revised Nov.1, 2005

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