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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Fine Specimens: A Showcase of Contemporary Type Design
Elliot Jay Stocks
Rockport Publishers
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760398913, $40.00, HC, 216pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Specimens-Showcase-Contemporary-Design/dp/0760398917
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fine-specimens-elliot-jay-stocks/1148096081
Synopsis: Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable and appealing
when displayed. It is the foundation of visual communication, shaping everything from branding and editorial layouts to
digital interfaces and environmental graphics.
Compiled and edited by Elliot Jay Stocks, "Fine Specimens: A Showcase of Contemporary Type Design" is an exquisitely
curated collection that highlights the best modern typefaces from leading type foundries around the world, offering both a
riveting visual exploration and an intellectual journey into the art of the letterform.
With carefully selected type specimens and striking layouts, "Fine Specimens" celebrates the versatility and impact of
contemporary typography. Accompanied by insightful essays from renowned designers and writers, "Fine Specimens" also
portrays the vital role of typography in today's design landscape.
"Fine Specimens" offers:
Exceptional type specimens from the most influential type foundries around the world
Thoughtful essays on typography's role in branding, editorial design, and digital interfaces
Visually stunning examples of type in action, demonstrating the power of well-crafted fonts
More than just another type specimen book, "Fine Specimens" is a visual celebration of typography as an art form -- and an
essential addition to any graphic designer's library.
Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of six informative essays by experts in the field of Typography, and of special and
particular interest to the publishing community, "Fine Specimens: A Showcase of Contemporary Type Design" from
Rockport Publishers is an extraordinary large format (9 x 0.79 x 10.5 inches, 2.05 pounds) profusely illustrated hardcover
volume that is unreservedly recommended as an essential and unique addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Typography, Calligraphy, and Graphic Design instructional reference collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Elliot Jay Stocks (https://elliotjaystocks.com) is a designer and musician, based just outside Bristol, UK.
After founding the typography magazine 8 Faces in 2010, Elliot joined Typekit (now known as Adobe Fonts) as creative
director and helped lead the service's transition into desktop fonts and the Creative Cloud ecosystem. He then went on to
take several creative director roles, all while co-running the lifestyle magazine Lagom with his wife. In 2021, Elliot
collaborated with Google to launch the typography education resource Google Fonts Knowledge. He is also the author of
Universal Principles of Typography (Rockport Publishers, 2024). Today, Elliot focuses exclusively on typographic
projects, as well as publishing the newsletter Typographic & Sporadic, and hosting the podcast Hello, type friends!
The Science Shelf
We Dig Ammonites: Fact, Folklore, and History
Jodi Summers
Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu
9780231213929, $59.95, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/We-Dig-Ammonites-Folklore-History/dp/0231213921
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-dig-ammonites-jodi-summers/1147265275
Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu/book/we-dig-ammonites/9780231213929
Synopsis: Ammonites swam in Earth's ancient seas for nearly 400 million years. These prolific cephalopods diversified
into more than 10,000 species before meeting their demise during the Cretaceous mass extinction.
Today, these spiral-shelled invertebrates are among the most abundant fossils in the geologic record, found from
snowcapped Himalayan peaks to parched South American arroyos. People around the world have long been drawn to the
mystery and beauty of ammonite fossils. These preternaturally preserved creatures have inspired age-old myths and
legends, and studying their secrets has spurred crucial scientific discoveries.
With the publication of "We Dig Ammonites: Fact, Folklore, and History", Jodi Summers (an accomplished journalist and
passionate fossil collector) guides readers through the entire arc of ammonite history. She explores the evolution,
proliferation, extinction, and fossilization of these captivating cephalopods, situating the story in the progression of deep
time.
Summers also prospects prime fossil-hunting locations, sharing tips, export legalities, and inside scoops for enthusiasts and
collectors in search of notable specimens. Additionally, she takes us along on her globe-spanning journeys: from the desert
to the seashore, up mountains and down canyons, to the backrooms of natural history institutions and the floors of fossil
shows.
"We Dig Ammonites" features hundreds of lavish color photographs of rare specimens that showcase the splendor of these
magnificent molluscs. This incredible study is an ode to one of the world's most compelling fossils and an invitation to
catch a glimpse of vanished epochs.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with contributions by paleontologists Andy Secher and Neal L.
Larson, as well as an illustrated five page Preface, a two page Epilogue, a thirty page Bibliography and Additional
Resources, and a nine page Index, this large format (8.5 x 1.2 x 11.2 inches, 3.15 pounds) profusely illustrated hardcover
edition of "We Dig Ammonites: Fact, Folklore, and History" from the Columbia University Press is an extraordinary,
magnificent, and meticulously presented work of seminal and groundbreaking research that is unreservedly recommended
addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Paleontology collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of palenotology students, academia, practicing
paleontologists, fossil collectors, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "We Dig
Ammonites: Fact, Folklore, and History" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $47.19).
Editorial Note #1: Jodi Summers is a field associate in paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History. She was
an editor for several rock music magazines and has written three books on the music industry as well as several blogs on
historic landmarks and other properties. Her ammonite collection includes more than a thousand specimens.
Editorial Note #2: Andy Secher, a field associate in paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, is the
author of Travels with Trilobites: Adventures in the Paleozoic (Columbia, 2022) and The Trilobite Collector's Guide
(Columbia, 2024).
Editorial Note #3: Neil H. Landman is curator emeritus in the Department of Invertebrate Paleontology at the American
Museum of Natural History.
The Cookbook Shelf
Eggs: All Day, Every Way
Tove Nilsson
Tra Publishing
www.trapublishing.com
9781962098335, $29.00, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Eggs-All-Every-Recipes-Techniques/dp/1962098338
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eggs-tove-nilsson/1147934801
Synopsis: How do you boil an egg so the yolk stays perfectly creamy? What causes it to coagulate? And what happens
when you slowly whisk in oil? An ode to the egg in all its forms, with the publication of "Eggs: All Day, Every Way",
Tove Nilsson cracks open the techniques and recipes that make the humble egg the most versatile ingredient in your
kitchen.
"Eggs: All Day, Every Way" is a book solely focused on eggs. They play a starring role in some of the world's tastiest
dishes: egg noodles, shakshuka, huevos rancheros, Scotch eggs, eggs Benedict, tea eggs, egg custard, and the classic
French omelette -- perfectly smooth and firm on the outside, creamy and tender within.
"Eggs: All Day, Every Way" showcases and demonstrates the techniques and know-how and expertise required need to
master these recipes ranging from boiled and poached eggs to souffles, ramen, and tartars. With dishes like these, you
can, if you want, eat eggs with every meal. And you will!
Critique: With full color, full page photos of finished dishes throughout, "Eggs: All Day, Every Way" is thoroughly
'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. An ideal and unique resource for planning and executing egg
themed menus suitable for any and all dining occasions both formal and informal, "Eggs: All Day, Every Way" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, and community library Specialized Cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Tove Nilsson is a chef and food writer. Ever since Tove ate her first huevos rancheros in New York, she
has wanted to make a book about eggs. A listing of her books is available at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14545544.Tove_Nilsson
The Art and Science of Tempura
Takashi Nakagawa, technical director
Hidemi Sato and Mitosi Tsuchida, authors
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319123, $29.99, HC, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Science-Tempura-Comprehensive-Ingredients/dp/4805319127
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-and-science-of-tempura-takashi-nakagawa/1146779114
Synopsis: Tempura is a Japanese cooking style in which seafood or vegetables are dipped in batter and deep-fried.
Chef Takashi Nakagawa has devoted his life to the art of making perfect tempura. He served a 17-year apprenticeship at
the renowned Tempura Mikawa restaurant in Tokyo and for the past 20 years has been at the helm of his own restaurant,
Tempura Nakagawa.
With the publication of "The Art and Science of Tempura: A Comprehensive Guide to Ingredients, Techniques and
Equipment" its more than 400 gorgeous color photos and informative charts and diagrams, Nakagawa and his two
co-authors, Hidemi Sato and Mitose Tsuchida present the full range of tempura recipes and techniques -- from the best
ingredients to use to making the perfect tempura batter and how to fry each ingredient to perfection, as well as how to
present your finished tempura as part of an elegant Japanese meal.
"The Art and Science of Tempura" provides a uniquely detailed look at the art of Japanese tempura, with specific sections
on:
The history and development of tempura from its introduction to Japan by the Portuguese 500 years ago
A review of the key ingredients from vegetables, fish and seafood to oils and flours - and the importance of selecting and
purchasing the correct ones
Methods used by professional tempura chefs to gut and clean fish and prepare vegetables
Pans, knives and other essential equipment - how to purchase, use and maintain them correctly
How to make the perfect batter and how to fry each ingredient under optimum conditions
Critique: Featuring detailed diagrams and charts that illustrate everything from the ways seafood changes when fried, to the
importance of carefully controlling the temperature of frying oil. Whether you are a professional chef, a lover of Japanese
cuisine, or an avid tempura fan, "The Art and Science of Tempura: A Comprehensive Guide to Ingredients, Techniques
and Equipment" is Japanese cuisine instructional cookbook that will provide fascinating insights into the world of Japan's
iconic national dish. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, and ideal for inspiring authentic
and memorable Japanese themed menus, this large format (7.5 x 1.2 x 10 inches, 2.6 pounds) hardcover edition of "The
Art and Science of Tempura" from Tuttle Publishing is especially recommended addition to personal, professional, and
community library ethnic themed cookbook collections, it should be noted that it is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $16.19).
Editorial Note #1: Takashi Nakagawa aspired to become a chef since he was a child, and trained for 17 years beginning in
1987 at Tempura Mikawa, Tokyo. He opened his own restaurant, Tempura Nakagawa, in Tokyo's Tsukiji district in 2004.
The restaurant is still going strong, and has gained a coveted entry in the Michelin Guide.
Editorial Note #2: Hidemi Sato is a trained dietician and holds a doctorate in food science. After graduating from
Yokohama International University, she worked in the culinary equipment industry for nine years. She then completed her
Masters and Ph.D. at Ochanomizu University. She has written several books on the topic of food science.
Editorial Note #3: Mitose Tsuchida graduated from Hiroshima University before receiving her doctorate from Ochanomizu
University. She worked as an editor at the Japanese food magazines Speciality Cooking and Culinary Kingdom before
becoming a freelancer. She writes and edits books and features on a wide variety of food subjects.
The American History Shelf
Michigan's Con-Con 11: Women and State Constitution-making in 1961
Lynn Liberato
Michigan State University Press
https://msupress.org
9781611865530, $32.99, PB, 223pp
MSU Press
https://msupress.org/9781611865530/michigans-con-con-11
Synopsis: "Michigan's Con-Con 11: Women and State Constitution-making in 1961" by Lynn Liberato highlights the
contributions of the eleven female delegates to the 1961-1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention.
As the first female delegates to a state of Michigan constitutional convention, these pioneers demonstrated that women
were more than capable of helping to revise Michigan's highest law. Their examples encouraged other women to enter
politics during a time when few women held state or federal public office.
Following the women's Con-Con journey over seven and a half months, "Michigan's Con-Con 11" provides a general
overview of what a state constitutional convention is and what it means to be a delegate. Michigan's Con-Con 11 both
educates the reader on constitution-making and sheds new light on an exciting moment in Michigan political history.
Critique: Unique, impressive well written and chronicled, exceptionally informative, "Michigan's Con-Con 11: Women
and State Constitution-making in 1961" will prove to an an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended resource for
readers with an interest in Women in Mid-20th American politics, Constitutional Law, and 20th Century Michigan
History. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Michigan's Con-Con 11: Women and State Constitution-making
in 1961" from Michigan State University Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.12) for personal,
professional, community, and academic library collections.
Editorial Note: Lynn Liberato received a 2024 State History Award for her article "Con-Con's Petticoat Revolt: Women at
the 1961 Constitutional Convention." She is a retired Michigan attorney who has written on several topics related to
Michigan history and judicial commentary.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights
Kathleen Spaltro
The University Press of Kentucky
www.kentuckypress.com
9781985903418, $40.00, HC, 312pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ethel-Barrymore-Empress-Footlights-Classics/dp/1985903415
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ethel-barrymore-kathleen-spaltro/1147033419
Synopsis: Born in Philadelphia in 1879, Ethel Barrymore would eventually prove herself a vital actor who was suited to
radio, stage, and screen. After breaking out with Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (1901), she performed in many plays,
including Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire (1905), Declassee (1919), and The Corn Is Green (1943), before investing her energies in
films such as The Spiral Staircase (1946) and Portrait of Jennie (1949). Barrymore ultimately won the Academy Award for
Best Supporting Actress for her role in None but the Lonely Heart (1944) opposite Cary Grant. She knew Hollywood's
fickle nature all too well, and she remained committed to the Drew and Barrymore stage acting legacy up until the time of
her passing in 1959.
With the publication of "Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights" author and biographer Kathleen Spaltro
emphasizes how Barrymore's career was born from "duty, not desire."
"Ethel Barrymore" traces Barrymore's story back to her Drew grandparents' emergence as a tour de force in
nineteenth-century US theater. Along the way, Spaltro examines the multifaceted relationship the "First Lady of the
American Theater" had with stardom, detailing such disappointments as having to relinquish her childhood dream of being
a concert pianist in order to pursue acting.
Spaltro also pulls directly from interviews to illustrate how Barrymore, often misinterpreted as demure, was exhausted by
the stage she so masterfully commanded.
With far more depth than a typical "rise and fall" narrative, this detailed biography of Ethel Barrymore paints an
empathetic picture of the struggles Barrymore faced, from her ascension to stardom to her "abdication of the throne".
Spaltro's comprehensive and nuanced approach recontextualizes Barrymore's career, showcasing just how much her
dogged allegiance to the Drew-Barrymore legacy cost her.
Critique: Fascinating, informative, biographically detailed, and a work of meticulously, exhaustive research, "Ethel
Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights" will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in 19th & 20th
Century American Theater/Cinema history and biographies in general, and the Barrymore family of distinguished actors in
particular. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and
college/university library Theatre/Cinema History and American Biography collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights" from the
University of Kentucky Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.00).
Editorial Note: Kathleen Spaltro is the author of :Lionel Barrymore: Character and Endurance in Hollywood's Golden Age"
and "The Great Lie: The Creation of Mary Astor", as well as many biographical articles.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030221.Kathleen_Spaltro)
The General Fiction Shelf
Soft Launch: A Coming-of-Adulthood Novel
Sarah Vacchiano
https://www.sarahvacchiano.com
Little A
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662536908, $28.99, HC, 315pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Launch-Coming-Adulthood-Novel/dp/1662536909
Synopsis: When Sam walked herself down the aisle at the age of twenty-two, she never imagined wanting more than the
life she had in that moment. Seven years later, with the ink still drying on both her law degree and her divorce papers, she
arrives in Manhattan ready to start adulthood over and chase her dreams of becoming an entertainment lawyer, determined
to prove to herself that upending her life was worth it.
As Sam navigates the high-pressure world of Big Law (heady and demanding, and full of magnetic and powerful people)
she finds an unexpected ally in her charming, supportive officemate, Charlie. But just as he begins to tear down the walls
Sam has built around herself, she lands her first big client, a "Poker Princess" facing federal charges for running
high-stakes games for Hollywood's elite, and discovers just how high stakes "fake it till you make it" can be when you've
given up everything to become someone new.
Critique: With a deftly blended storyline of workplace romance and emotional self-realization, "Soft Launch" is all the
more impressive when considering that it is author Sarah Vacchiano's debut as a novelist. Original, emotionally engaging,
deftly crafted, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "Soft Launch", with its themed of starting over and finding
yourself, is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary
General Fiction collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Soft Launch" from Little A is also readily
available in paperback (9781662536885, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Sarah Vacchiano (https://www.sarahvacchiano.com) is an entertainment lawyer based in Los Angeles. A
graduate of Duke Law School, she began her legal career as a litigator representing Molly Bloom (the subject of the
Oscar-nominated biopic Molly's Game, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin) and other high-profile clients in the media
and entertainment space. Sarah has also served as an adjunct professor of entertainment law at Duke and is a frequent guest
lecturer for NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and Stern School of Business.
Loon Point
Carrie Classon
https://www.carrieclasson.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662530449, $16.99, PB, 284pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Loon-Point-Novel-Carrie-Classon/dp/1662530447
Synopsis: Alone in the Northwoods, Norry Last settles in for another springtime lull at the remote resort she inherited from
her father. She's content with the solitude, maybe resigned. But when a blizzard hits, those little cabins by the lake start to
fill up fast.
First to arrive is Lizzie, an eight-year-old with resilience and wisdom beyond her years, neglected by a mother struggling
with addiction. Next comes Wendell, a cantankerous old fellow whose house collapses in the storm, the same way hope
collapsed inside him long before. And then there's Bud, the helpful handyman who's always buzzing around, his kindness
thawing something Norry thought she'd buried deep in the Minnesota snow.
As white melts to green, the Last Resort's unlikely companions learn to share space, stories, and quiet comforts -- an
unexpected family that makes perfect sense. After all, Lizzie needs to be cared for. Wendell needs to care. Norry needs to
open up. And Bud? Bud just might fix everything.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun and engaging read from start to finish, "Loon Point" is all the more impressive
when considering that it is author Carrie Classon's debut as a novelist. Carefully scripted characters, interesting plot lines,
and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that raises her family life fiction themed novel to an impressive level of
literary excellence, "Loon Point" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community
library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Loon Point" from Lake
Union Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Carrie Classon (https://uptales.com/u/carrie-classon) is a performer and a nationally syndicated columnist
with Andrews McMeel Universal. Born in Minnesota, she had a fourteen-year career in theater, performing in dozens of
shows from Oregon to Maine. After founding and running a professional Equity theater for seven years, Carrie earned her
MBA and began working in international business. She also holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of New
Mexico and has written a memoir and over six hundred columns.
Singing to the Sun
Regina Rodriguez Sirvent, author
Beth Fowler, translator
Amazon Crossing
9781662532443, $16.99, PB, 431pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Sun-Regina-Rodr%C3%ADguez-Sirvent/dp/166253244X
Synopsis: After Rita Racons fails her college's required English course and her plans for a summer with friends are ruined,
she loses all sense of direction. Until Rita heeds her free-spirited grandmother's advice to get off their roof terrace and go
out and find her place in the world.
Boarding a plane from Barcelona to New York is just the beginning. Fate eventually lands Rita in Atlanta as an au pair
with two questions: What is an au pair, and where the hell is Atlanta?
The Booklands, a cultured, well-read, picture-perfect American couple, have hopes that Rita will be up to the standards set
by their three intellectually gifted children. She won't be. Entirely. But Rita can brush up on her English, the kids can refine
their Spanish -- and what's more, during Rita's sometimes-chaotic stay in America, her charges will experience a life
beyond books and privilege.
As for Rita, her grandmother's words have never sounded truer: "You don't go travelin' to escape. You go travelin' to find
yourself." Rita is well on her way.
Critique: An original, fun, fascinating, absorbing, and deftly crafted novel from start to finish, "Singing to the Sun" by
Regina Rodriguez Sirvent is aptly translated into English by Beth Fowler for an American readership. Part coming of age
story and part contemporary romance, "Singing to the Sun", with its author's genuine flair for the kind of distinctive and
narrative driven storytelling style is a strongly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library
Contemporary General Fiction & Romance collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Singing to the
Sun" from Amazon Crossings is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note #1: Regina Rodriguez Sirvent was born in Puigcerda, Spain. A graduate in psychology, Regina studied
screenwriting at Escola Superior de Cinema and creative writing at Ateneu Barcelones. She has written for various
newspapers and media outlets. Singing to the Sun, a literary sensation in Spain and winner of the L'Illa dels Llibres
popular-vote award, is her first novel to be translated into English.
Editorial Note #2: Beth Fowler (https://www.transitbooks.org/beth-fowler) has been a translator since 2009, working from
Spanish and Portuguese to English. She won the Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize in 2010, and her published
translations include Open Door and Paradises by Iosi Havilio; Ten Women by Marcela Serrano; and We All Loved
Cowboys by Carol Bensimon. She lives in the west of Scotland.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Other Moctezuma Girls
Sofia Robleda
https://sofiarobleda.com
Amazon Crossing
9781662532504, $16.99, PB, 349pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Moctezuma-Girls-Novel/dp/1662532504
Synopsis: Tenochtitlan, 1551. Thirty years after the Spanish Conquest destroyed everything she loved, the last Aztec
empress has passed and left behind a pristine yet tenuous legacy for her children. As her last will and testament is read out,
her daughter Isabel suspects that another account of her mother's life may exist, hidden away, chapter by chapter, in the
Valley of Mexico.
Following each clue, Isabel is determined to find out who her mother really was and to discover the secrets she buried in
order to survive.
Joined by her siblings and a handsome young cook named Juan, Isabel embarks on a perilous journey to piece together the
past -- a journey that will force the party to brave the brutal viceroyal court, face fearsome legends in mystical chinampas,
and trek through desert, fire, and snow.
As Isabel's feelings for Juan grow, she confronts everything she thought she knew about her Spanish father, her empress
mother, and herself. Facing everything from the tunnels of ancient pyramids to the summit of an active volcano, Isabel will
meet every challenge to fulfill an epic quest for the truth.
Critique: Impressively original, featuring deftly crafted characters and an inherently fascinating, multifaceted storyline,
"The Other Moctezuma Girls" by novelist Sofia Robleda will hold an immense attraction to readers with an interest in
novels that are a blending of magical realism and indigenous themed historical fiction. Certain to be an extraordinarily
enduring popular pick for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
this paperback edition of "The Other Moctezuma Girls" from Amazon Crossing is also in a digital book format (Kindle,
$4.99).
Editorial Note: Sofia Robleda (www.sofiarobleda.com) is a Mexican writer and author of Daughter of Fire. She spent her
childhood and adolescence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, and completed her undergraduate and doctorate
degrees in psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. She currently lives in the UK with her husband and son,
and splits her time between writing, raising her son, and working as a psychologist, supporting people with brain injuries
and neurological conditions.
Land of Dreams
Gian Sardar
https://www.giansardar.com
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662526800, $16.99, PB, 299pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Dreams-Novel-Gian-Sardar/dp/1662526806
Synopsis: It's 1933, and though the country is stuck in the Great Depression, movies are the ultimate escape. But
Hollywood is skilled at selling lies, and nothing is as it seems.
Frankie Donnelly is scrappy, smart, and ambitious. Her knack for spinning any story into stellar publicity has made her an
invaluable "fixer" at RCO Studios, where she works under the tutelage of powerful Nico Marconi. Frankie's latest fix is the
upcoming marriage of Hollywood royals Jack Sawyer and June Finney, and millions of fans can't wait to see their favorite
silver-screen lovers tie the knot. But Frankie knows the truth: The marriage is an artful cover for Jack and June's darkest
secrets.
When a shocking murder occurs, allegiances fracture, the tabloids go wild, and a devastated public is left reeling. Frankie
uncovers new layers of scandal and deception and is forced to choose which Hollywood player to protect and who to
destroy. Now, more than ever, the country needs a happy ending -- but at what cost?
Critique: Original, exceptional, cleverly scripted, engaging, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "Land
of Dreams" by gifted author Gian Sardar is a deft blending of murder mystery and historical romance -- all set in a vividly
portrayed 1930s yesteryear Hollywood. Certain to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for both
personal reading lists and community library Historical Mystery/Romance Fiction themed collections.
Editorial Note: Gian Sardar (www.giansardar.com) is the author of the novels Land of Dreams, When the World Goes
Quiet, Take What You Can Carry, and You Were Here, and is the coauthor of the memoir Psychic Junkie. She studied
creative writing at Loyola Marymount University, and her work has appeared in the New York Times and Confrontation
Magazine and on Salon.com, among other places.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
The Hollywood Fix
Richard Kirshenbaum
https://www.northbayroadnovel.com
Post Hill Press
www.posthillpress.com
9798895652848, $21.00, HC, 400pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Fix-Richard-Kirshenbaum/dp/B0F316G1SB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hollywood-fix-richard-kirshenbaum/1147211234
Synopsis: During Hollywood's Golden Age, a destitute young man, Bartie Maddox, journeys to Los Angeles and, through
his wits, hard work, and talent, becomes the PR fixer to the most important film studio and its studio chief, Solomon
Myers. Through his experienced specialized lens, Bartie influences the lives and creation of some of the world's greatest
stars: Duke Drake, Carroll Madison, Mirielle Montaigne, and the heiress, Grace Greystone, La Marquise de Faucigny,
exposing how their images are created, managed, and intersect through the Great War and glamor of Tinseltown.
This masterful and sweeping novel by Richard Kirshenbaum, although a work of fiction, is based on true stories from the
studio system era and PR machines which have not only created legends but exposed the dirty business of keeping the stars
shiny and clean. Bartie's intricate fixes involve endless scandals of money, sex, captivating personas and even the cover-up
of death. But in the end, Bartie's own studio fix becomes the greatest fix of all.
Critique: Deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and a memorable read from start to finish, "The Hollywood Fix" showcases
author Richard Kirshenbaum's originality and impressively flair for the kind of imaginative and narrative driven
storytelling style that will keep the reader's full engagement and make it an enduringly popular pick for community library
Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Hollywood
Fix" from Post Hill Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Richard Kirshenbaum (https://www.northbayroadnovel.com) is the author of "Isn't that Rich", "Rouge",
and "North Bay Road". An accomplished entrepreneur and author, he has been inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame
and has written comedy for the legendary Joan Rivers and Us Weekly's Fashion Police.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Bluebird Gold
Devney Perry
https://devneyperry.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662536724, $16.99, PB, 319pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bluebird-Gold-Devney-Perry/dp/1662536720
Synopsis: Living in Dalton, Montana, was not what Ilsa had planned for this winter. But after her father's sudden death, she
uprooted her life to move into his tiny lakeside cabin and settle his estate. Her friends told her to sell his place and move
on. But this winter is Ilsa's chance to say goodbye. To remember a man who'd loved tales of Montana lore.
Taking a temporary teaching job seemed like the perfect way to keep herself busy on lonely days. Cleaning out the cabin
should have been simple. Except the more she learn about her father's life, the more questions she had about his death.
The last thing Ilsa needed was a crush on Sheriff Cosi Raynes. Not only is his son Ilsa's student, but his life is rooted in
Montana, while hers was headed... anywhere else.
Yet as Ilsa uncovered a trail of strange clues her father had left behind about a lost legend of Montana gold, staying away
from Cosi is not an option.
Ilsa had come to Montana to bury the past. Now she finds herself falling for the man who might just be her future. And
either Ilsa will solve this mystery, or the person in Dalton determined to hide the truth will make sure she dies trying.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and deftly scripted from start to finish, "Bluebird Gold" by experienced and prolific
novelist Devney Perry is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community/public library
Contemporary Romance collections. A prized pick for the personal reading lists of dedicated fans of romance laced with an
on-going element of suspense, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Bluebird Gold" from Montlake is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Devney Perry (https://devneyperry.com) is the author of over fifty romance novels. A complete listing of
her published novels is available online at Books Series in Order -- https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/devney-perry
The Slow Burn
Ali Rosen
https://ali-rosen.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662535963, $16.99, PB, 316pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Burn-Ali-Rosen/dp/1662535961
Synopsis: Between a breakup and a burned-down restaurant, there's nothing left in New York for Kit Roth except the ashes
of her success.
Needing distance and distraction, she agrees to work for her best friend's pasta-making nonna in the Italian countryside.
But instead of providing a quiet sabbatical to eat up time while her kitchen is rebuilt, the small town of Manciano keeps
pulling Kit into its rituals and rhythms. And before long, it shows her everything she's been missing. Simpler cooking,
community... and Nico Ruspoli, an olive oil producer with his own scorched past.
But with Kit determined to leave after three months, and Nico rooted to his grove, their growing chemistry is at odds with
what they both want for their future.
Yet with each passing week, Kit finds herself measuring less and tasting more. And when it's time to go back to her life in
New York, she doesn't know what (or who!) she's willing to leave behind.
Critique: A fun read from cover to cover for fans of contemporary romantic comedies, "Slow Burn" by Ali Rosen will
prove to be a prized and enduringly popular pick for personal reading lists and community/public library Contemporary
Romance collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Slow Burn" from Montlake is also available to
Rom-Com fans in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Ali Rosen (www.ali-rosen.com) is the author of four novels plus three cookbooks, including the bestselling
15 Minute Meals. She has been featured everywhere from The Today Show to The New York Times and has written for
Bon Appetit, The Washington Post, and New York magazine. She can be connect with online at via Instagram
@Ali_Rosen
Still Waters
Patricia Johns
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244186, $16.99, PB, 352pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Still-Waters-Christian-Community-Shepherds/dp/0764244183
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/still-waters-patricia-johns/1147013283
Synopsis: Unsure of her future within the Amish community, Beth Peachy arrives in Lancaster County for the summer to
care for her ailing grandmother. Yet with dementia threatening to steal away Mammi's memories, Beth's visit quickly
evolves into an urgent search for answers to questions that her relatives seem determined to avoid. How can Beth possibly
make a lifelong vow to the Amish church when her own family is concealing so much of the past from her?
Beth's childhood friend Danny Lapp faces his own dilemma as his ex-Amish older brother turns his back on their family
upbringing, dishonoring his Plain heritage. Struggling to find some sort of connection with his brother despite their deep
difference of opinion, Danny is determined to find a solution before church leadership becomes involved.
As Beth and Danny reconnect and seek to help each other in their search for answers, they find themselves stirring up not
only surprising revelations about the past, but questions about a possible future -- together.
Critique: A perfect pick for fans of Amish romance stories, "Still Waters" by accomplished novelist Patricia Jones is
original, engaging, and a fun read from cover to cover. Unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as
community library Contemporary Christian Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the legions of Patricia
Jones fans that this paperback edition from Bethany House Publishers of her latest Amish/Mennonite novel is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Patricia Johns (www.PatriciaJohns.com) is the author of more than fifty books. She writes Amish fiction
with tight communities, outspoken heroines, and the handsome men who fall in love with them.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Edge
Tracy Clark
https://tracyclarkbooks.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517358, $16.99, PB, 332pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Detective-Harriet-Foster-Tracy-Clark/dp/1662517351
Synopsis: Chicago's finest are scouring the city for a tainted new opioid making the rounds, but they're coming up empty.
With five people already dead (a college kid, a new mother, and three poker players) all they really know is the drug's
name: Edge. Where it's coming from is still anyone's guess.
Detective Harriet Foster doesn't have time for guessing games. She needs answers. And when the next overdose hits
Homicide where it hurts most, Harri is determined to get what she wants. But keeping her eyes squarely on the prize
proves harder than expected.
Still reeling from her last case (and the stain of suspicion it left on her career), Harriet finds herself at a tipping point. The
drug isn't the only edge she needs to worry about. If she can't come back from her own, there's no telling whether this
investigation will lead to a satisfying conclusion... or her own demise.
Critique: An original, cleverly scripted, and simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Edge" by novelist Tracy Clark is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted
for the personal reading lists of dedicated fans of action packed police procedural mysteries feature a female detective that
this paperback edition of "Edge" from Thomas & Mercer is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$4.99).
Editorial Note: Tracy Clark (https://tracyclarkbooks.com) is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery and Detective
Harriet Foster series, award-winning books that feature tough, smart, Black female characters working the mean streets of
the Windy City. Her debut novel, Broken Places, was CrimeReads' Best New PI Book of 2018 and made Library Journal's
Best Crime Fiction list that same year. A finalist for Anthony, Lefty, Macavity, Edgar, and Shamus Awards, Tracy has won
two G. P. Putnam's Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Awards and one Sara Paretsky Award. She is a proud member of Crime
Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime and sits on boards at Bouchercon and the Midwest
Mystery Conference.
Watch Us Fall
Christina Kovac
Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781501141720, $28.00, HC, 272pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Watch-Us-Fall-Christina-Kovac/dp/1501141724
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/watch-us-fall-christina-kovac/1146889567
Synopsis: Lucy and her three best friends share a glamorous but decaying house in the heart of Georgetown. They call
themselves "the Sweeties" and live an idyllic post-grad lifestyle complete with exciting jobs, dramatic love lives, and, most
importantly, each other.
But when Addie, the group's queen bee, discovers that her ex-boyfriend Josh has gone missing, the Sweeties' worlds are
turned upside down. In the days leading up to his disappearance, Josh, a star investigative journalist from a prominent
political family, was behaving erratically -- and Lucy is determined to find out why. All four friends upend their lives to
search for him, but detectives begin to suspect that the Sweeties might know more than they're letting on.
As the investigation unfolds, Lucy's obsession with the case reaches a boiling point, and with it, her own troubling secrets
begin bubbling to the surface of her carefully curated life.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, reader engaging, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "Watch Us Fall"
by author Christina Kovac is a absorbing mystery of psychological suspense. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Contemporary Suspense/Thriller collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that this hardcover edition of "Watch Us Fall" from Simon & Schuster is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9781668100059, $34.99,
CD).
Editorial Note: Christina Kovac (https://christinakovac.com) is also the author of The Cutaway. She worked for seventeen
years managing Washington, DC, newsrooms and producing crime and political stories in the District. Her career as a
television journalist began with Fox Five's Ten O'Clock News, and after that, the ABC affiliate in Washington and then at
NBC news.
A Field Guide to Murder
Michelle Cullen
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892424622, $29.99, HC, 320pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Murder-Novel/dp/B0F6MKQCMB
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-field-guide-to-murder-michelle-l-cullen/1147348102
Synopsis: Once a globe-trotting anthropologist, Harry Lancaster is now certain that all his grand adventures are behind
him. Recently widowed and suffering from a fractured hip, Harry spends his days and nights behind a pair of binoculars,
nose-deep in his neighbors' affairs. His millennial caregiver, Emma, is determined to get him out of his armchair and back
into the world.
Fate intervenes when Harry's mysterious neighbor, Sue, phones, pleading for help. But instead of rescuing her, Harry and
Emma find Sue dead: poisoned, days after a break-in at Sue's house. Harry resolves to find out what happened, and Emma
insists on going along for the ride.
Together, they discover motives and suspects abound in Harry's quaint condominium community... putting them both in
the crosshairs of a cold-blooded killer.
Readers of Kristen Perrin and Deanna Raybourn will be charmed by this quirky, cross-generational murder mystery.
Critique: An original, cross-generational, deftly crafted, murder mystery by an author with a genuine flair for the kind of
narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader from start to finish, "A Field Guide to Murder" by Michelle
Cullen is an extraordinary and inherently fascinating read. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick
for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
dedicated cozy mystery buffs that this hardcover edition of "A Field Guide to Murder" from Crooked Lane Books is also
easily available in paperback (9798892424639, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Michelle L. Cullen (https://mlcullen.com) has lived, traveled, and studied all over the world: from working
as a bilingual secretary in Paris; to backpacking around Europe, Central America, and Southern Africa; to helping rebuild
communities after war throughout Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. She earned her master's degree in
anthropology at Melbourne University in Australia and her PhD in sociology at the London School of Economics in
England. She currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she's either doing yoga, playing outside, or plotting
murder.
A Grave Deception
Connie Berry
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892422093, $29.99, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Grave-Deception-Kate-Hamilton-Mystery/dp/B0DZWRRFCD
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-grave-deception-connie-berry/1147464277
Synopsis: Kate Hamilton and her husband, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, have settled into married life in Long
Barston. When archaeologists excavating the ruins of a nearby plague village discover the miraculously preserved body of
a fourteenth-century woman, Kate and her colleague, Ivor Tweedy, are asked to appraise the grave goods, including a
valuable pearl. When tests reveal the woman was pregnant and murdered, the owner of the estate on which the body was
found, an amateur historian, asks Kate to identify her and, if possible, her killer. Surprised, Kate agrees to try.
Meanwhile, tensions within the archaeological team erupt when the body of the lead archaeologist turns up at the dig site
with fake pearls in his mouth and stomach. Then a third body is found in the excavations. While Kate's husband Tom is
tracking the movements of a killer of his own.
With the help of 700-year-old documents and the unpublished research of a deceased historian, Kate must piece together
the past before the grave count reaches four.
Critique: The sixth title in novelist Connie Berry's outstanding Kate Hamilton cozy mystery series, "A Grave Deception" is
an original and riveting read from cover to cover that features an amateur female sleuth who is married to a British
detective. An original and simply riveting read from start to finish, as well as a 'must' for all dedicated cozy mystery fans,
"A Grave Deception" will prove to be an immensely popular pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that this hardcover edition of "A
Grave Deception" from Crooked Lane Books is also readily available in paperback (9798892422932, $19.99) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Connie Berry (https://connieberry.com) is the author of the Kate Hamilton mysteries, which is a series of
cozy mysteries set in the UK and featuring an American antiques dealer with a gift for solving crimes. Like her
protagonist, Connie was raised by antiques dealers who instilled in her a passion for history, fine art, and travel. In 2019
Connie won the IPPY Gold Medal for Mystery and was a finalist for the Agatha Award's Best Debut. She is also a member
of Mystery Writers of America and serves on the board of the Guppies and her local Sisters in Crime chapter.
The Devil in the Details
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892422116, $29.99, HC, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Details-Sherlock-Bookshop-Mystery/dp/B0F3W68CSY
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devil-in-the-details-vicki-delany/1147464374
Synopsis: Gemma Doyle is excited about celebrating Jayne Wilson's big day. It's supposed to mark not only the birthday of
Jayne, her partner in crime, but also that of the Great Detective himself. Following the festivities at the Sherlock Holmes
Bookshop and Emporium, Gemma heads for the Blue Water Cafe, the site of Jayne's party. To make things even better,
Jayne's wedding is only a week away.
But the much-anticipated affair quickly turns to disaster with the presence of the bride and groom's respective exes in
attendance and other unruly guests. With drama at every corner, Gemma and Jayne take a break on the chilly deck
overlooking the ocean when they spot the body of a party attendee floating in the water below.
As Detective Ryan Ashburton takes a closer look at the guest list, Jayne's wedding is in peril, especially when it is revealed
that her fiance, Andy, is a prime suspect. With the police closing in and more lives on the line, it's up to Gemma to keep
Andy from prison and save Jayne's wedding day from ruin.
Critique: "The Devil in the Details" is a classic cozy mystery 'starring' an amateur female sleuth having to solve a puzzling
'whodunnit' murder mystery if a friend is to be saved from a crime he didn't do! Author and storyteller Vicki Delany is a
true master of the cozy mystery genre and her latest novel, "The Devil in the Details" is a fun read from cover to cover.
Unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of cozy mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "The Devil in the Details" from Crooked Lane
Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (https://vickidelany.com) is one of Canada's most prolific and varied crime writers. She has
written more than fifty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals to historical fiction to novellas
for adult literacy. She is also a past chair of the Crime Writers of Canada, as well as cofounder and organizer of the
Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. She is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to
Canadian crime writing. Vicki lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
A Deadly Clue
Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892422154, $29.99, HC, 288pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Clue-Hunter-Clewe-Mystery/dp/B0F6MKQJSD
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-deadly-clue-victoria-gilbert/1147464287
Synopsis: Cameron Clewe and Jane Hunter, lovers of all things bookish, are slowly cataloging Cam's private collection of
first edition books acquired from the deceased patriarch of the wealthy Stewart family. When Jane finds a note from
Kimberly Stewart Ward, one of the daughters of the Stewart patriarch - who supposedly committed suicide - she discovers
someone was actually targeting her with the intention of killing her.
Jane and Cam decide to look into the supposedly closed case, but their investigation becomes urgent when another member
of the Stewart family is found dead from a drug overdose. The victim's friends claim he'd been clean and sober for years
and refuse to accept the cause of death.
Believing both cases to be connected, Jane and Cam are determined to solve them before any other direct heirs of the
family are targeted.
Critique: The growing legion of author Victoria Gilbert fans will be excited to learn that Hunter and Clewe are back in "A
Deadly Clue", the third title in the simply outstanding Hunter and Clewe mystery series from Crooked Lane Press. For
Hunter and Clewe, when a closed case is reopened after another member of a prominent family is murdered, it becomes a
matter of separating genuine clues from red herrings in a true cozy mystery approaching to solving still another puzzling
'whodunnit'. A fun, original, and deftly crafted novel from start to finish, "A Deadly Clue" is unreservedly recommended as
a prized pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all
cozy mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "A Deadly Clue" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early
obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over thirty years in the library field,
she's worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge
Library mystery series, the Booklover's B&B mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for
Crooked Lane Books. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
(https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/victoria-gilbert)
Behind These Four Walls
Yasmin Angoe
https://yasminangoe.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662529696, $28.99, HC, 367pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Behind-These-Four-Walls-Novel/dp/1662529694
Synopsis: Isla Thorne had a rough start in life. Orphaned young, she spent her formative years in a group home where she
met her best friend, Eden Galloway. At sixteen, they decide to run away to LA... but Eden never makes it.
It's been ten years since Eden vanished. And Isla's determined to find her.
She begins at the last place Eden visited: the Corrigan mansion in Virginia. Eden claimed to have unfinished business
there. Posing as an aspiring journalist, Isla insinuates herself into the wealthy family's home and begins searching for the
truth.
The more she digs, the more Isla discovers Eden isn't who she thought she was. Was she even a victim, or did Eden plan
this all along? Desperate for answers and to keep her identity hidden, Isla finds an ally in one of the Corrigan sons. But as
she wades deeper into this power-hungry family's secrets and lies, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a bloodline that's
more lethal than loyal.
Critique: As a novelist, in her novel "Behind These Four Walls", Yasmin Angoe demonstrates a genuine flair for
originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader totally engaged from first page to last. A
novel of suspense and mystery, "Behind These Four Walls" will be especially appreciated by fans of deftly crafted
psychological thrillers. While a highly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Behind These Four Walls" from Thomas &
Mercer is also available in paperback (9781662529672, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Yasmin Angoe (https://yasminangoe.com) is also the author of Her Name Is Knight. She has served in
education for nearly twenty years and works as a developmental editor. Yasmin received the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland
Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, was a Goodreads 2024 People's Choice nominee for Mystery & Thriller, and was a
finalist for the Library of Virginia's People's Choice Award for Fiction. She's a member of several organizations like Crime
Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
The Water Lies
Amy Meyerson
www.amymeyerson.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662531972, $28.99, HC, 347pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Water-Lies-Amy-Meyerson/dp/1662531974
Synopsis: Heavily pregnant with her second child, Tessa Irons has enough on her mind without her toddler throwing
tantrums at the local coffee shop. The boy is inconsolable, shouting "Gigi!" to a woman Tessa's never seen before -- and
never will again. Because the next morning, the woman's body is dredged up from the canal outside the Ironses' posh
Venice Beach home, and Tessa's gut tells her it's no coincidence.
Barb Geller refuses to believe that her daughter's death was just some drunken accident. She heads to California for
answers, where she crosses paths with Tessa. Together they hunt for the truth, certain they'll find a connection between
their children.
But the police don't believe them. Tessa's husband dismisses her worries as pregnancy jitters, and even though people are
always watching along the canals, no one saw a thing. Tessa and Barb only have each other, their intuition, and the
creeping sense of danger that grows with every shocking revelation.
Critique: An original, deftly crafted, and inherently fascinating read that will be immensely appreciated by the legions of
psychological thriller and murder mystery fans, "The Water Lies" by novelist Amy Meyerson is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended pick for community and public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Water Lies" from Thomas & Mercer is also available
in paperback (9781662531989, $16.99) and currently in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Amy Meyerson (www.amymeyerson.com) is the author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays, The Imperfects,
and The Love Scribe. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and are frequently chosen for best-of lists,
including lists from Good Morning America, Publishers Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, Library Journal, The
Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Texas Library Association's Lariat List, among others. Meyerson completed her graduate
work in creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she now teaches in the writing department.
The Final Score
Don Winslow
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063450424, $30.00, HC, 304pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Final-Score-Thrillers-Back_Revealing-Betrayal/dp/0063450429
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-final-score-don-winslow/1147047543
Synopsis: The multi-million-dollar casino heist is impossible -- it can't be done. And that's just what makes it irresistible to
a legendary robber facing the rest of his life in prison for his "Final Score."
An ambitious, hard-working college-bound teenager has a side job delivering illegal booze to "The Sunday List" until a
crooked cop, a seductive customer, and a fake guru threaten to end his dreams.
Two wise guys tell each other a "True Story" over breakfast at a diner. It's all bullshit and laughs until someone else has to
pick up the check.
An otherwise honest patrolman has to make an excruciating choice between his loyalty to the job and his love for a
ne'er-do-well cousin in "The North Wing."
The entitled, substance-addicted movie star that surfer/PI Boone Daniels and his crew are hired to babysit in "The Lunch
Break" is a problem.
She also has a problem -- someone wants her dead.
Finally, the one terrible, momentary mistake that a devoted family man makes sends him to prison and on a "Collision"
course between the man he wants to be and the killer he's forced to become to survive.
"The Final Score" is a propulsive, perceptive, and deeply immersive book of crime fiction and the ultimate testament to
novelist Don Winslow's prowess as a living legend of the genre.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and an exceptionally compelling read from start to finish, "The Final Score" is a 'must
read' pick for the growing legions of dedicated Don Winslow fans and a perfect introduction to this master of the
suspense/thriller genre for those new to his work. A riveting, fascinating, and fun, "The Final Score" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for community/public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Final Score" from William Morrow & Company is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and in a large print edition (9780063475915, $34.00, 416pp).
Editorial Note: Don Winslow (https://www.donwinslow.com) is the author of twenty-six novels (Savages, The Kings of
Cool, The Cartel, The Force, The Border, City on Fire, City of Dreams and City in Ruins). He has also written a series of
award-winning short stories for Audible narrated by four-time Oscar nominee Ed Harris. A former investigator,
anti-terrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Two Bodies Are Better Than One
Erica Ruth Neubauer
https://ericaruthneubauer.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662535949, $16.99, PB, 347pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bodies-Better-Lorraine-Highsmith-Mysteries/dp/1662535945
Synopsis: Until 1989, the wildest thing to happen in the sleepy town of Sheboygan Bay was surfers catching waves on
frigid Lake Michigan. Then one summer morning, Lorraine Highsmith wakes up to find a corpse on her lawn.
Detective Michaela "Mike" Zenoni is on the case immediately, eager to make a name for herself in a male-dominated
precinct. And Lorraine is close behind -- as the local advice columnist, she's always looking for a scoop.
What they don't know is that Lorraine once had ties to the mob, and those connections could be coming back to haunt her.
A recent transplant to Wisconsin, she keeps her past shrouded in mystery, and she'd like to keep it that way.
Mike might be working with her to find the killer, but Lorraine knows that alliances can change on a dime. She needs to
get ahead of this story... no matter who's trying to put an end to hers.
Critique: As an author of suspense thriller mysteries, Erica Ruth Neubauer has a very special and genuine flair for the kind
of narrative driven, laced with gallows humor, and imaginatively clever storytelling style that keeps the reader's fully
engaged attention throughout. A fun and fascinating read from cover to cover, "Two Bodies Are Better Than One" is an
unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans that this trade paperback edition of "Two Bodies Are Better Than One"
from Thomas & Mercer is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Erica Ruth Neubauer (https://ericaruthneubauer.com) is the Agatha Award winning author of the Jane
Wunderly Mystery series. She spent eleven years in the military, nearly two as a Maryland police officer, and one as a high
school English teacher before finding her way as a writer. For several years, she was a reviewer of mysteries and crime
fiction for publications such as Publishers Weekly and Mystery Scene magazine. She is currently a member of the Sisters
in Crime and Mystery Writers of America organizations. Erica Ruth lives outside Madison, Wisconsin, although her heart
will always be in Milwaukee.
Enigma Girl
Henry Porter
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802164438, $27.00, HC, 448pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Enigma-Girl-Henry-Porter/dp/0802164439
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enigma-girl-henry-porter/1145543161
Synopsis: Slim Parsons is all but burned. When her last deep-cover job for MI5 ended with a life-and-death struggle on a
private jet, she went on the run from her deadly target -- a conniving businessman and money launderer codenamed
"Hagfish." Now she's back at home, in hiding from her angry bosses in the Security Service, who have accused her of
being overly violent and unsuitable for the role of an MI5 operative.
But after several months off the grid, Slim is called back to another job named Operation Linesman -- where she is asked
to infiltrate a news website Middle Kingdom whose explosive articles clearly show that they've hacked into the most
high-security government databases. She accepts the assignment on condition that the Security Service searches for her
missing brother.
But Linesman turns out to be anything but simple. Slim uncovers a curious connection between the Middle Kingdom
hackers and the legendary Bletchley Park codebreakers. Her new colleagues are becoming suspicious of her intentions, and
Hagfish is out for revenge and threatening MI5 itself as it all comes together in a shocking crescendo.
And all the while she is being watched by someone even deeper in the shadows than she is.
Critique: A riveting suspense thriller of a read from cover to cover, "The Enigma Girl" showcases author Henry Porter's
genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven, plot twisting, pulse-pounding action adventure storytelling that will be of
special appeal to fans of political and espionage themed novels. While very highly recommended as a popular pick for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of
"The Enigma Girl" from Atlantic Monthly Press is also readily available in paperback (Atlantic Crime, 9780802166548,
$17.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.16).
Editorial Note: Henry Porter has written eight internationally bestselling thrillers, including Brandenburg Gate, which won
the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, and The Bell Ringers, which was also nominated for the award.
(https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/henry-porter)
Dark Dream / Sleep, My Love
Robert Martin, author
Gary Warren Niebuhr, introduction
Stark House Crime Classics
c/o Stark House Press
www.starkhousepress.com
9798886011043, $19.95, PB, 340pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Dream-Sleep-My-Love/dp/B0DHJDF1BQ
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-dream-sleep-my-love-robert-martin/1146319104
Synopsis: DARK DREAM
Agency detective Jim Bennett is sent to Wheatville at the request of lawyer Sam Algood. Someone is taking potshots at
Allgood on the golf course and he'd like to know who it is. While Bennett is investigating the golfing situation, he is also
hired by Pete Donati, owner of Armand's Beauty Salon. Someone is sabotaging his curling process and burning his
customer's heads. Between the two cases (and in spite of Allgood's flirtatious wife) Bennett figures to have an easy week of
it, wrapping things up in no time. Then he meets the beautiful but scarred Marianne, Donati's wife and the real power
behind Armand's. A man might very well murder for her. And in no time at all, someone does.
SLEEP, MY LOVE
Detective Jim Bennett is saddened to hear about his best friends' divorce. He'd grown up with Dan and Kay. On the
rebound, Dan marries a gold-digger named Louette. It's not a happy marriage. In fact, Dan confesses that he came home
early and caught her with another man, and roughed him up. But when he and Dan go back to his apartment, they find
Louette with a knife in her chest. And Dan becomes the only suspect. Then Bennett finds himself entangled in another
crime when he receives a desperate plea for help from Dan's womanizing boss, Roger Quinn, whose lover is murdered in
their hotel room. Both men claim innocence. But the odds are against at least one of them.
Critique: Two time lost mysteries by the late Robert Martin (October 16, 1908 - February 1, 1976) have now been brought
back into print (and under one cover) for a new generation of appreciative readers in the Stark House Crime Classics
series. This two story sampling of the kind of crime novels that were Martin's particular style will leave fully entertained
readers wanting to seek out other titles by this master of the genre. Of special note is the informative Introduction provided
by crime fiction enthusiast, Gary Warren Niebuhr. While especially commended for community and public library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated crime novel fans that this
paperback edition of "Dark Dream / Sleep, My Love" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note #1: Robert Lee Martin wrote 23 detective novels between 1951 and 1964, including the Jim Bennett series
under his own name, and various other mysteries as by "Lee Roberts".
Editorial Note #2: Gary Warren Niebuhr (https://www.garywarrenniebuhr.com/author) is an author, artist, photographer,
and holds a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The People's Library
Veronica G. Henry
www.veronicahenry.net
47 North
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662520297, $16.99, PB, 303pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Peoples-Library-Veronica-G-Henry/dp/1662520298
Synopsis: Echo London never wanted to be the curator of the People's Library, a digital collection of human consciousness.
But when she's assigned as its head librarian, Echo is entrusted with humanity's greatest minds and historical figures, all of
whom have been recreated through controversial consciousness-capturing technology that lets visitors interact with the
dead.
But an anti-tech rebellion is stirring. When a rebel attack results in tragedy, a mysterious woman wearing an ancient death
mask leaves behind cryptic final words for Echo: It all begins with nothing. Caught between the resistance and a
potentially virtual evolution, Echo begins to fear that there's more to her job than meets the eye and the mind. There are
secrets here. And the People's Library may be less of a promise of things to come than a warning of the danger that lurks
beneath the surface. Now the fate of humanity lies in uncovering the truth.
Critique: Original, imaginatively clever, a fun read from cover to cover, and one that will hold a special attraction for
deftly crafted science fiction, "The People's Library" is an extraordinary and memorable story by Veronica G. Henry,
whose dramatic, eloquent, and narrative driven storytelling style elevates her science fiction novel to an impressive level of
literary excellence. While unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted
for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction fans that this paperback edition of "The People's Library" from 47
North is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Veronica G. Henry (www.veronicahenry.net) is also the author of Bacchanal, The Quarter Storm and The
Foreign Exchange in the Mambo Reina series, and The Canopy Keeper (a Silver Falchion Award finalist) and A Breathless
Sky in the Scorched Earth series. Her work has She is a Viable Paradise alum and a member of SFWA and Crime Writers
of Color (CWoC). Her stories have appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Many Worlds, and FIYAH
literary magazine.
Midnight Somewhere: A Short-Story Collection
Johnny Compton
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9798228364790, $29.99, HC, 280pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Somewhere-Short-Story-Johnny-Compton/dp/B0FBBYBGCY
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-somewhere-johnny-compton/1147504830
Synopsis: "Midnight Somewhere" is comprised of horror fantasy short stories by Bram Stoker Award-nominated author
Johnny Compton. The stories include:
A man gets into a car that can take him anywhere he can imagine--including the past, into the worst mistake of his life, a
memory he does not want to relive, cannot escape, and is even more afraid to alter...
A seemingly harmless, forgettable film about "alien hand syndrome" inspires a wave of self-harm among viewers--and
even stranger things among those who become obsessed with it ...
A woman tries to bring her dead lover to life through a macabre ritual that requires attacking his corpse. Is it because she
longs to be with him again... or because the two of them have unfinished business?
All the assorted characters in this thrilling collection encounter horrors that range from mysterious to murderous,
discovering that darkness can find anyone, anywhere, at any hour of the day. After all, it's always Midnight
Somewhere...
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a riveting read from cover to cover, "Midnight Somewhere: A Short-Story
Collection" showcases author/storyteller Johnny Compton's impressively imaginative, exceptional, and narrative driven
style. Especially and unrservedly recommended for both the personal reading lists of dedicated supernatural horror fantasy
fans, and community library Occult/Horror Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of
"Midnight Somewhere" from Blackstone Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and
as a complete and unabridged audio book (9798228364851, $35.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Johnny Compton (https://johnnycompton.com) is also the author of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated The
Spite House. His short stories have appeared in PseudoPod, Strange Horizons, The NoSleep Podcast, and many other
outlets. He is a Horror Writers Association member and creator and host of the podcast Healthy Fears.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Petra Cherie
Attilio Micheluzzi, author
Jamie Richards, translator
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875001048, $34.99, HC, 312pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ch%C3%A9rie-Fantagraphics-Attilio-Micheluzzi-Library/dp/B0DKH8QPPG
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/petra-cherie-attilio-micheluzzi/1146479432
Synopsis: Set during World War I and originally published in serial format from 1977-1982, Petra Cherie follows the
adventures of Petra De Karlowitz, "Cherie" to creator Attilio Micheluzzi, who addresses her throughout the book. Born to
a Polish businessman and the most beautiful woman in Paris, raised in Canton, China, and now based in neutral Holland,
she is a spy who answers only to herself. Evoking but cleverly eschewing stereotypes of the femme fatale, Petra is equally
at home in the cockpit of an airplane and behind the wheel of a motorcar. More than that, she is an endlessly fascinating
enigma and one of the most iconic characters in Italian comics.
In short, thrilling tales across sky, sea, and land, zipping from Northern Europe to Mitteleuropa, from the Balkans to the
Bosphorus to the nascent Soviet Union, Micheluzzi grapples with an era when Europe's borders were in flux and battle
lines were often blurred. Petra steps in where national allegiances come into conflict with our common humanity.
Attilio Micheluzzi was an architect by training who grew up between Istria, Libya, and Naples, brings his international
experiences and his keen sense of perspective to his work. In the tradition of the Corto Maltese adventures and stylish look
of Guido Crepax's Valentina, Petra Cherie was prepared in collaboration with the author's daughter Agnese
Micheluzzi.
Critique: Ably translated into English for an American readership, this large format (8.3 x 1.2 x 10.8 inches, 2.85 pounds)
hardcover edition of the late Attilio Micheluzzi's massive graphic novel "Petra Cherie" from Fantagraphics is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
historical fiction and biographical fiction themed graphic novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Petra Cherie" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Editorial Note #1: Attilio Micheluzzi (1930-1990) was an Italian comics artist. In the early 1970s, in 1972 he started
collaborating with the magazine Corriere dei Piccoli, often under the pen name Igor Arzbajeff. Among the best-known
comics created by Micheluzzi, there were the science fiction series Roy Mann, with texts by Tiziano Sclavi, and the
adventure series Petra Cherie and Johnny Focus. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attilio_Micheluzzi)
Editorial Note #2: Jamie Richards (http://www.richwords.net) is an Italian-to-English translator from Southern California
currently based in Milan, Italy. She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Oregon and an MFA in
Literary Translation from the University of Iowa.
Shadows of the Sea
Cathy Malkasian
Fantagraphics
www.fantagraphics.com
9798875001376, $24.99, HC, 168pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Sea-Cathy-Malkasian/dp/B0DXSSLMVN
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-the-sea-cathy-malkasian/1147029165
Synopsis: On the lonely road meet two outcasts - Doris, a small but spitfire woman and Stanwick, a shy and sensitive dog.
Each of this unlikely pair harbors grief, and must decide whether to stay with the pain or run from it. On their journey, the
two travel through lush forests, to the eerily abandoned town of echoes, clear to the "mudder" sea, where they finally
confront the unbearable trauma of their pasts.
Cartoonist Cathy Malkasian's graphic novels are known to be crafted with layered, affecting allegory and metaphor, and
"Shadows of the Sea" is no exception. In this story, shadows become characters themselves, weighed down with painful
truth. They cannot be released until their owners acknowledge, reflect, and heal. Charged by the magic of the "mudder"
sea, the shadows reveal the loss Doris and Stanwick have been carrying (a husband and a child) and sets them free at
last.
Critique: Original, engaging, deftly crafted, "Shadows of the Silence" by storyteller and illustrator Cathy Malkasian is an
extraordinary, compelling, and simply fascinating read from start to finish. A masterpiece of graphic novel storytelling,
"Shadows of the Silence" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Graphic
Novel collections. It should be noted for fantasy graphic novel fans that this hardcover edition of "Shadows of the Silence"
is also readily available from Fantagraphics in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Cathy Malkasian (https://www.percygloom.com) is an animation director and cartoonist. Her credits
include Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys film (for which she received a British Academy Award nomination), and most
recently, over 20 episodes of Curious George for PBS since 2008. Fantagraphics has released several of her graphic novels
including Percy Gloom (2007), Temperance (2010), Eartha (2017), and NoBody Likes You, Greta Grump (2021).
The Music CD Shelf
Heart's Pace
Joshua Rager Quartet
Bent River Records
$20.00 CAD CD / $10.00 CAD digital
Bandcamp
https://joshrager.bandcamp.com/album/hearts-pace
The Joshua Rager Quartet consists of Joshua Rager on piano, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Alec Walkington on bass, and
Rich Irwin on drums. Together they present Heart's Pace, a jazz album of five original compositions and two arrangements
of cherished favorites. The quartet's seamless The songs span a variety of tempos, drawing the listener into a delectable
jazz smorgasbord. A choice pick for connoisseurs of the genre, Heart's Pace is highly recommended. The tracks are I've
Grown Accustomed to her Face (Lerner/Loewe); Centered (J. Rager/SOCAN); Heart's Pace (J. Rager/SOCAN); Intro;
Fathers and Sons (J. Rager/SOCAN); Ebb and Flow (J. Rager/SOCAN); Within Reach (J. Rager/SOCAN); and
Dreamsville (Mancini).
lofi at lowlands 2
Kevin Sun
Endectomorph Music
www.endectomorph.com
$12.00 CD / $12.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://thekevinsun.bandcamp.com/album/lofi-at-lowlands-2
lofi at lowlands 2 is the second music CD in an instrumental jazz series that uses extensive post-production to transform
live music into a work of avant-garde auditory art. The brainchild of Kevin Sun, lofi at lowlands reworks the artistry of
Kevin Sun on tenor saxophone, Walter Stinson on bass, and Kayvon Gordon on drums, applying dynamic panning,
overlaid performances, and more to create the impression of overlapping timelines that phase in and out. lofi at lowlands 2
is a direct continuation of the previous album, lofi at lowlands 1; the tracks of both albums flow together into a
multilayered experience, like movements of a symphony. lofi at lowlands 2 and its predecessor are a "must" for
connoisseurs of bold, cutting-edge experimentation, highly recommended. The tracks are "shimmering"; "darksome";
"shimmering i"; "happenstantial"; "shimmering ii"; "if that"; and "shimmering iii".
Confluence
Jung Stratmann Quartet
www.sujaejungmusic.com
www.wolfrobertstratmann.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $15.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://jungstratmann.bandcamp.com/album/confluence
The Jung Stratmann Quartet consists of Sujae Jung on piano, Wolf Robert Stratmann on double bass, Steve Cardenas on
guitar, and Marko Djordjevic on drums. Together they present Confluence, an original jazz EP of original, instrumental
songs inspired by themes ranging from a whale's ocean journey to a tribute to the New York City music scene. Confluence
is an immersive delight for jazz connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are Tree Huggers (Jung); Summer Whale
(Jung and Stratmann); This Wine Tastes Very Dry (Stratmann); The Pull (Stratmann); and After Sunset (Jung).
Burning Wick
Satoko Fujii
Libra Records
www.librarecords.com
$TBA CD / 1,200 Japanese yen digital
Bandcamp
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/burning-wick
Pianist-composer Satoko Fujii presents Burning Wick, a jazz album of Fujii's original compositions with vocals,
performed by Fujii on piano and voice, Natsuki Tamura on trumpet, Hayakawa Takeharu on bass and voice, and Tatsuya
Yoshida on drums and voice. Originally founded in 2001, the all-star quartet has reunited to perform a breathtaking,
exuberant, and immersive new collection. Burning Wick is a treasure for connoisseurs of international jazz, highly
recommended. The tracks are Solar Orbit; Rain in the Wee Small Hours; Walking through the Border Town; Neverending
Summer; Mountain Gnome; Three Days Later; and Burning Wick.
Searching for Solace
Jon Dahlander
www.jondahlander.com
Blackdog in Snow (BMI)
$TBA
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/37DSbndnjzkqDs0UzS7rOq
The fifth solo piano project by Jon Dahlander, Searching for Solace encompasses a broad range of emotions in its original
music. The thoughtful, gently flowing songs express longing, loss, love, hope, nostalgia, tranquility, wistfulness, and more.
Searching for Solace is a delight for solo piano connoisseurs, highly recommended! The tracks are osage; fog; forsaken;
zig; unspoken; hollow; squall; miss; cherry; plainview; wave; carolina; and remnant.
Late Nights
Brad Schrader
Privately Published
www.latenightsjazz.com
$20.00 CD / $9.00 digital
Bandcamp
https://bradschrader.bandcamp.com/album/latenights-2
Jazz vocalist Brad Schrader presents Late Nights, an album where Schrader performs beloved favorite songs with the
smooth, easy listening quality one would expect in a laid-back nightclub. Supported by Jerry Vezza on piano and music
direction, Alex Claffy on bass, Andrew Van Tassell on sax, and Khary Abdul-Shahid on drums, Late Nights is a choice
pick for connoisseurs of the genre. Highly recommended! The tracks are Time After Time (Jule Styne); I Wish I Knew
(Harry Warren); It's All Right With Me (Cole Porter); It Never Entered My Mind (Richard Rogers); Quiet Nights With
Quiet Stars/Corcovado (Antonio Carlos Jobim); You Do Something To Me (Cole Porter); and Skylark (Hoagy
Carmichael).
The Road to Trantor
Carl Schultz
Origin Records
$17.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Road-Trantor-Carl-Schultz/dp/B0FRY5CKSN
Multi-instrumentalist and composer Carl Schultz presents The Road to Trantor, an instrumental album of original songs
that unfold like the soundtrack to an imaginary science fiction movie. Drawing inspiration from classic science fiction
novels such as Isaac Asimov's "Foundation", but not intended as a soundtrack for any specific work, The Road to Trantor
pushes creative boundaries and inspires the listener to explore their own storytelling dreams. Performed by Carl Schultz on
saxophone and flute, Tim Wendel on guitar, Adam Benjamin on piano and rhodes, Zack Teran on bass, and Alwyn
Robinson on drums, The Road to Trantor is an exciting soundscape adventure, highly recommended. The tracks are
Journey; Psychohistory; Caves of Steel; Ecumenopolis; Gladia; Unsettled Worlds; Crystalline Desolation; and the Spirit of
Adventure.
Love Makes the Changes
Maria Corsaro
mariacorsaro.com
Lola Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTWNV98W
Jazz vocalist Maria Corsaro presents Love Makes the Changes, a music album where she beautifully performs classic
works by a variety of composers. Supported by Skip Ward on bass, David Silliman on drums, and Mark Feinberg on sax
and flute, Maria Corsaro lends passion and heart to these timeless songs about the many forms of love. A treasure for
connoisseurs of smooth vocal jazz, Love Makes the Changes is highly recommended. The tracks are If You Never Fall in
Love with Me (Del Sasser); In April (For Nenette); Secret Love / Never Said (Chan's Song); (You Don't Know) How Glad
I Am; No More Blues; You Taught My Heart to Sing; Love Makes the Changes; Portrait in Black and White (Zingaro);
Stolen Moments; Walkin' Shoes; I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before; and That Day.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life
Jimmy Hawkins
Harper Horizon
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400255108, $19.99, HC, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Its-Wonderful-Life-Inspirational/dp/1400255104
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-heart-of-its-a-wonderful-life-jimmy-hawkins/1147142505
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life: How the Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still
Inspires the Spirit", author and former actor Jimmy Hawkins helps us focus on the true meaning behind the classic holiday
movie. It's not just the message or its many famous lines but rather the motivation behind the creation of the film and
director Frank Capra's unrelenting vision for what it should be.
As a boy, Jimmy played George Bailey's youngest son, Tommy. And he has spent the eight decades since living out the
heart of the story and becoming arguably the world's foremost expert on the movie. Filled with unpublished facts that the
Jimmy has collected over the years about the cast and crew, "The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life: How the Most
Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit" gives a clearer understanding of what they all brought to the
scripted pages.
Through excerpts from the screenplay, never-before-seen photos, and a lifetime of friendship with both Frank Capra and
the stars of the movie, Hawkins guides us to discover why this story still touches the spirit decades after its release.
Because It's a Wonderful Life is not just George Bailey's or Frank Capra's story -- it's the story of all of us, and of many
generations to come.
Critique: Offering a true 'insider' perspective, insights, and experiences, "The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life: How the Most
Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit" is a unique and simply fascinating study of an iconic movie, the
people who made it, and the impact it has had on generations of viewers. This hardcover edition of "The Heart of It's a
Wonderful Life: How the Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit" from Harper Horizon is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, film
buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life: How the
Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$11.99).
Editorial Note: Jimmy Hawkins played Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed's son, Tommy Bailey, in the classic Frank Capra
film It's a Wonderful Life, as well as appearing in over forty movies and more than three hundred TV shows. Along with
his many other credits as producer, he produced the all-star television special for PBS based on the Lux Radio Theater's
version of It's a Wonderful Life in celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. Jimmy is the author of five popular It's a
Wonderful Life books and served on the advisory boards of the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the Donna Reed Foundation, and
the Seneca Falls It's A Wonderful Life Museum. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/385857.Jimmy_Hawkins)
Bloody Broadway
Amnon Kabatchnik
https://amnonkabatchnik.com
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887718132, $45.00, HC, 446pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Broadway-Menace-Mystery-1900-1930/dp/B0FMX39G7V
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bloody-broadway-plays-of-menace-murder-and-mystery-volume-1-1900-1930-amnon
-kabatchnik/1148076976
BearManor Media
https://www.bearmanormedia.com/products/bloody-broadway
Synopsis: The entity known as Broadway began with several stage contributions by the American playwright-actor-director
William Gillette. Gillette's major success was Sherlock Holmes, a compilation of half-a-dozen short stories by Arthur
Conan Doyle into a cohesive plot line. It played at Manhattan's Garrick Theatre, garnered positive reviews, and ran for 256
performances.
During the decade of 1900-1910, a number of prolific melodramatists whipped up various four-act plays featuring plays of
crime and punishment populated by flamboyant villains, brawny heroes, and damsels in distress. Hal Reid's heroines went
through dangerous cliffhangers. Clyde Fitch introduced elements that became hallmarks of detective fiction - the innocent
party entrapped by circumstantial evidence as a murder suspect, the lack of alibi, and the sharp cross-examination of the
suspect before the attorney of the defense agrees to take on the case.
In Owen Davis's Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Girl (1906), an inheritor of a fortune goes through a series of attempts on her
life, by knives, pistols, and bombs. George M. Cohan set the frightening action of Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913) in a
vacant lodge during a stormy night. Elmer Rice inserted in On Trial (1914) cinematic flashbacks to cover the events that
preceded a murder trial. John Willard was hailed for the ingenious use of secret panels and sliding doors in The Cat and the
Canary (1922).
Acts of crime began to emerge in the works of notable playwrights, albeit in a more subtle approach (August Strindberg,
Maxim Gorky, Bertolt Brecht) providing psychological insights. From England came to Broadway plays of betrayal,
violence, and detection by W. Somerset Maugham, J. B. Priestley, and Daphne du Maurier, followed by the French
Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Jean Genet, the Hungarian Laszlo Fodor, the German Ernst Toller, the Spanish Garcia
Lorca, and the Italian Ugo Betti.
Also, mixing their ink with blood were the American novelists Damon Runyon, James Baldwin, Arthur Miller, and
William Faulkner, as well as the Nobel Prize winners Eugene O'Neil, John Steinbeck, and Ernest Hemingway.
The entries comprising "Bloody Broadway - Plays of Menace, Murder, and Mystery - Volume 1 1900-1930" are presented
chronologically and include a plot synopsis, production data, opinions by critics, and biographical sketches of playwrights
and key actors-directors.
Critique: "Bloody Broadway - Plays of Menace, Murder, and Mystery - Volume 1 1900-1930" by Professor Amon
Kabatchnik is an extraordinarily comprehensive and meticulously research theatrical history for the first three decades of
the 20th Century. An invaluable contribution to the history of the American theatre in general and the murder/crime
themed theatrical plays in particular, this hardcover edition of "Bloody Broadway - Plays of Menace, Murder, and Mystery
- Volume 1 1900-1930" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library American Drama History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Bloody Broadway -
Plays of Menace, Murder, and Mystery - Volume 1 1900-1930" is also available in paperback (9798887718125, $35.00)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Amnon Kabatchnik (https://amnonkabatchnik.com), now retired, was the Professor of Theater at SUNY
Binghamton, Stanford University, Ohio State University, and Elmira College. He directed numerous dramas, comedies,
thrillers, and musicals in New York and across the United States. He is also the author of Sherlock Holmes on the Stage,
Courtroom Dramas on the Stage, Horror on the Stage, Murder in the East End, as well as the seven-volume series, Blood
on the Stage.
The Business Shelf
Digital Marketing Strategy, fourth edition
Simon Kingsnorth
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398622074, $69.00, HC, 440pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Marketing-Strategy-Integrated-Approach/dp/1398622079
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/digital-marketing-strategy-simon-kingsnorth/1123181023
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded fourth edition, "Digital Marketing Strategy: An Integrated Approach to
Online Marketing" by Simon Kingsnorth is a practical DIY guide specifically designed for mid-career professionals
seeking to build credibility and lead with confidence. This new edition of Simon's 'how to' manual offers detailed models
and frameworks to help you apply strategic principles across AI integration, marketing automation and digital analytics.
With fresh real-world examples and actionable tools, "Digital Marketing Strategy" empowers you to optimize your digital
marketing efforts and deliver measurable impact.
This new edition of "Digital Marketing Strategy" covers:
Developing a strategic digital marketing plan using proven frameworks
Implementing AI-driven tools to enhance campaign efficiency
Optimizing marketing performance with data-backed decision making
Building career credibility through advanced digital marketing skills
Of special note is that this new edition features using AI to build a strategy, the metaverse, Web3 and NFTs, plus updates
to data points, platform features and real-world examples
With comprehensive chapters and supportive online resources, "Digital Marketing Strategy" is an informative guide
equipping you to navigate emerging digital trends while driving tangible results in your organization and career.
Critique: Of special and relevant value for readers with an interest in creating viable digital marketing strategy, AI
integration and marketing automation, practical frameworks and tools, career development and impact, and illustrative
real-world case studies, "Digital Marketing Strategy: An Integrated Approach to Online Marketing, fourth edition" by
Simon Kingsnorth is thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation making it an invaluable and
extraordinary pick for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business
Marketing/Sales collections. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and
anyone else with an interest e-commerce, website based marketing, and internet search engine optimization that this
hardcover edition of "Digital Marketing Strategy: An Integrated Approach to Online Marketing" from Kogan Page is also
available in paperback (9781398622067, $41.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $37.90).
Editorial Note: Simon Kingsnorth (https://simonkingsnorth.com) is a nationally recognized digital marketing expert with
over 20 years of industry experience, he was formerly the Global Head of Digital Marketing at Citi Bank and has provided
consultancy services to leading brands such as Vodafone, Asda and Lloyds TSB. He is currently the Founder and CEO of
SK, which is a Strategic marketing company that supports small and large businesses around the world to build and
execute highly successful marketing strategies.
AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing, second edition
Katie King
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398622357, $69.00, HC, 336pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Sales-Marketing-Connecting-Experience/dp/1398622354
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ai-strategy-for-sales-and-marketing-katie-king/1139571699
Synopsis: Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing: Connecting Marketing,
Sales and Customer Experience" by Katie King offers proven frameworks and expert insights to help senior professionals
harness artificial intelligence for customer-centric sales growth.
This new edition of "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing" continues to be an authoritative guide that blends the latest
research with practical tools, enabling informed leadership to navigate AI-driven personalization, team upskilling,
omnichannel experiences and ethical governance.
Featuring exclusive interviews with executives from L'Oreal, Salesforce and UOB, "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing"
fully equips leaders to deliver sustained ROI in an evolving landscape.
"AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing" covers:
Applying strategic models to integrate AI across marketing and sales functions
Utilizing data-led decision making to enhance customer experience and loyalty
Driving organizational change with AI-driven team development and productivity tools
Managing AI governance and ethical considerations to build consumer trust
Additionally, this new second edition of "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing" includes fresh interviews and real-world
examples, new research illustrating the impact of AI in CX, actionable strategies to improve team productivity, updates to
the ethical landscape globally and the introduction to a new framework called the AI Playbook.
Specifically designed for senior marketing and sales executives, this updated edition of "AI Strategy for Sales and
Marketing" is an invaluable guide empowering you to lead AI adoptions that align with business objectives and delivers
lasting results.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this newly expanded and updated second edition of "AI
Strategy for Sales and Marketing: Connecting Marketing, Sales and Customer Experience" by Katie King is an ideal
instructional reference and 'how to' manual that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, corporate, and college/university library Business Sales/Marketing/Management collections and supplemental
MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, business executives, entrepreneurs, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in AI advances with respect to business applications including customer
relations and strategic business planning, that this hardcover edition of "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing: Connecting
Marketing, Sales and Customer Experience" from Kogan Page is also readily available in paperback (9781398622333,
$42.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $40.84).
Editorial Note: Katie King is CEO of AI in Business, a firm that specializes in AI consultancy and training. With over 30
years' experience, she has advised many of the world's leading brands and business leaders, including Richard
Branson/Virgin, o2, Orange and Accenture. Based in Kent, UK, she is a member of the UK Government All-Party
Parliamentary Group (APPG) task force for the enterprise adoption of AI and an Editorial Board Member of the journal AI
and Ethics. A regular international keynote speaker, she has also delivered TEDx talks and is a frequent commentator on
BBC TV and radio. (https://www.aiinbusiness.co.uk/katieking)
Reaching the Chasm
Edward Amoroso
Columbia Business School Publishing
c/o Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu
9780231219839, $26.00, HC, 240pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Reaching-Chasm-Drive-Early-Stage-Start-Up/dp/0231219830
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reaching-the-chasm-edward-amoroso/1147401532
Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu/book/reaching-the-chasm/9780231219839
Synopsis: One of the greatest challenges facing any start-up is "crossing the chasm" -- meaning bridging the gap between
early adopters and mass-market buyers. Yet many promising businesses struggle even to reach the chasm. Often, founders
leap in with money and a dream, only to hit a wall. How can start-up founders diagnose and fix problems in order to arrive
at this critical point?
With the publication of "Reaching the Chasm: How to Drive Your Early-Stage Start-Up to Scale", Edward G. Amoroso
provides an indispensable guide for start-ups looking to get off the ground and scale up to the next level.
'Getting to the chasm', as he illustrates through dozens of real-world case studies, requires long-term vision.
Founders must focus on their core belief system - not simply what they do but why they are in business in the first place.
Buyers connect with start-ups based on shared beliefs, and any founding team that does not understand this secret will
struggle to build relationships with customers.
Amoroso also shares field-tested guidance for businesses in different spaces and stages on crafting a compelling message,
understanding customers, benchmarking against competitors, and leveraging what makes a company irreplaceable. For
founders, venture capital teams, private equity firms, investors, and readers with an interest in entrepreneurship, "Reaching
the Chasm" is the road map for early-stage start-up success.
Critique: Essential reading for entrepreneurs and anyone new to operating a commercial venture of any kind, "Reaching the
Chasm: How to Drive Your Early-Stage Start-Up to Scale" is an ideal introduction to strategic business planning and
strategies. Exceptionally well written and impressively effective in organization and presentation, "Reaching the Chasm" is
an especially and unreservedly recommended -- especially for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA
students, entrepreneurs, and anyone new to business systems planning, and non-specialist general readers with an interest
in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Reaching the Chasm" from Columbia Business School Publishing is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.33).
Editorial Note: Edward G. Amoroso is the founder and CEO of TAG Infosphere, a global cybersecurity research and
advisory firm, and a distinguished research professor in the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University. The
author of several books, he is a former senior vice president and chief security officer at AT&T and has served on major
corporate boards.(https://www.hipconf.com/leader/edward-amoroso)
The Music Shelf
Intimate Conversations
Larry Ruttman
Torchflame Books
https://torchflamebooks.com
9781611535051, $50.00, HC, 440pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Conversations-Face-Matchless-Musicians/dp/1611535050
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intimate-conversations-larry-ruttman/1145966116
Synopsis: "Music is life. Music is a reflection of who we are as humans." -Susan Graham, renowned American
mezzo-soprano
With the publication of "Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians", a compendium of revealing and
genuine interviews, interviewer Larry Ruttman converses with world-renowned musicians of the 21st century and engages
them in an approachable manner.
Readers will dive into the recesses of the minds of a series of musicians to discover the influences and inspiration behind
classical music and other popular genres such as pop, jazz, folk, Americana, and many other genres impacting today's
musical culture.
The interviews comprising "Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians" include: John Harbison, Joan
Tower, Robert Levin, Unsuk Chin, Osvaldo Golijov, Matthew Aucoin, Harry Christophers CBE, Charles Dutoit, Gil Rose,
Martin Pearlman, Benjamin Zander, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Susan Graham, Kim Kashkashian, Laurence Lesser, Cecylia
Arzewski, Aiko Onishi, Ran Blake, Eden MacAdam-Somer, Monica Rizzio, and Mark Volpe.
"Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians" is ideal and informative reading for dedicated fans,
determined music students, and the casually interested listener to music of all genres, "Intimate Conversations: Face to
Face with Matchless Musicians" is certain to inspire, fascinate, and entertain its readers.
Critique: Original, unique, informative, fascinating, this large format (8 x 1.4 x 10 inches, 2.88 pounds) hardcover edition
of "Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians" by Larry Ruttman is extraordinary, exceptional, and
an outstandingly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary
Music History & Criticism collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,
musicians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Intimate
Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians" from Torchflame Books is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Larry Ruttman (https://www.larryruttman.com) is an author, historian, podcaster, and teacher. His podcasts,
His papers have been collected and disseminated worldwide by the New England Historical Genealogical Society, he is a
Fellow of the Mass. Historical Society, and has a Wikipedia article. Larry's previous work includes American Jews and
America's Game, chosen as best in America in 2013 by Sports Collectors Digest.
The Interior Design Shelf
The Quiet Home
Michelle Halford
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729820, $32.99, HC, 208pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Home-Hushing-Intentional-Living/dp/1784729825
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-quiet-home-michelle-halford/1147212565
Synopsis: A beautiful, authoritative guide to the concept of house hushing, "The Quiet Home: House Hushing for Calm
and Intentional Living" by Michelle Halford incorporates design principles and strategies for dialing down the visual noise
in your home, and creating serene interiors that promote calm and wellbeing. It takes a pared-down, thoughtful approach to
home interiors and explains how to create spaces that whisper rather than shout.
"The Quiet Home" takes as its starting point the idea that everything in an interior has a voice and creates noise. By
reducing this visual noise through thoughtful design principles and strategies we can create a more serene living
environment that in turn increases our wellbeing. A concept that delves deeper than aesthetic principles and how a home
looks, quietening the spaces we live in can greatly affect how we feel.
"The Quiet Home" also offers a guide to hushing our homes covering mindful minimalism, the art of editing, spatial
design, and room-by-room strategies. Furthermore it provides insights for both creating a quiet home and adopting a more
considered way of life.
"The Quite Home" begins with five key principles that provide a framework for the concept - Soothing Color, Natural
Elements, Tactility, Soft Shapes and Flexibility, then, chapter by chapter, presents detailed methods for cultivating quiet
spaces. with chapters on Mindful Minimalism, The Art of the Edit, Room by Room and Quiet Perspectives. Analysis of the
work of renowned designers and brands offers further insights, along with beautiful imagery that takes the reader on a
global journey of inspiring homes and design.
A comprehensive guide to read cover to cover, the chapters comprising "The Quiet Home" can also be read in any order,
providing clear reference points for a range of home projects, large or small.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with full color and full page photo illustrations throughout, "The Quiet
Home: House Hushing for Calm and Intentional Living" is an extraordinary study that is impressively well written,
organized and presented for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in Interior Design & Decorating. As
informative as it is inspiring, "The Quiet Home" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Interior Design collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "The Quiet Home" from Mitchell Beazley is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Michelle Halford (https://www.thedesignchaser.com) is an interior stylist, writer, and designer based in
Auckland, New Zealand, with over 300k followers across social media. She works on creative projects with local and
international brands, including Dulux, Samsung, Pernod Ricard, BoConcept, Nespresso, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts NZ,
and consults with clients on residential spaces. With a focus on holistic design, she has been creating quiet spaces for 12
years, and her work has been featured in many publications. Most recently, she has moved into product design with a
homeware collaboration and the launch of her own furniture brand.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Book of Healing
Joseph Odumosu, author
Michael Oladejo Afolayan, translator
Helen Tilley, translator
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299351007, $99.95, HC, 656pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Yor%C3%B9b%C3%A1-Worlds-Joseph-Od%C3%B9m%C3%B3s%C3%B9/dp/02993
51009
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book-of-healing-joseph-odumosu/1147383032
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/B/Book-of-Healing
Synopsis: Ably translated into English by the team of Michael Oladejo Afolayan and Helen Tilley, "Iwe Iwosan (Book of
Healing)" is the first book-length study of Yoruba therapeutics, encompassing thousands of remedies for more than 160
different ailments. Originally published in 1910 by Ijebu healer, politician, and public intellectual Joseph Odumosu, much
of the scholarship on African healing cultures has been reconstructed from unwritten sources and texts produced by
missionaries, colonial officials, and anthropologists. Of the small number of firsthand accounts in African languages
(beyond Arabic) that have survived in written form, Odumosu's is the most extensive and encyclopedic.
While the existence of Odumosu's massive work is well-known in southwestern Nigeria, it has not previously been
available in English. Michael Oladejo Afolayan and Helen Tilley have translated the volume in its entirety, and here use it
as an entree into greater understandings of Yoruba medicine, spirituality, and print culture during a time of rapid change
under British colonialism and the spread of Christianity.
Critique: Of immense relevance and a unique contribution to West African History, Customs, Medicine, and Cultural
Anthropology, this large (7 x 1.5 x 10 inches, 1 pound) hardcover edition of of Joseph Odumosu's "Book of Healing" from
the University of Wisconsin Press includes 18 B/W historical photos/illustrations and is an unreservedly recommended
addition to personal, professional, and college/university library African Medicine collections and supplemental 'History of
Medicine' curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Joseph Odumosu (1863-1911) was part of a burgeoning cultural and political renaissance in
southwestern Nigeria that crystallized in the wake of British conquest. He acquired the first printing press in his home
district of Ijebu, launched its first magazine, spearheaded a trade boycott, and presided over a chapter of the Aborigines
Protection Society. He was also a healer, exposed throughout his lifetime to different specialist groups and self-identified
as an oni egun or master of medicine.
Editorial Note #2: Michael Oladejo Afolayan is an expert in systemic text linguistics with a special focus on Yoruba
language and literature. He is the author of Fate of Our Mothers: The Collected Memories of an African Village Boy and
the English translator of Isaac Oluwole Delano's 1953 novel Aiye D'Aiye Oyinbo (Welcome to the White Man's World).
Now retired from Southern Illinois University, he works part-time as an educational consultant.
Editorial Note #3: Helen Tilley is an associate professor of history with courtesy appointments in law and anthropology at
Northwestern University. She is the author of the award-winning book Africa as a Living Laboratory: Empire,
Development, and the Problem of Scientific Knowledge and the editor of several volumes, including Therapeutic
Properties: Global Medical Cultures, Knowledge, and Law.
The Art Shelf
Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape
Vladislav Yeliseyev
Rockport Publishers
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760399255, $26.99, PB, 160pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Color-Watercolor-Landscape-Principles/dp/0760399255
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-and-color-in-the-watercolor-landscape-vladislav-yeliseyev/1147519088
Synopsis: With the publication of "Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape: Essential Principles and Techniques"
aspiring artists can discover the secrets to capturing depth, atmosphere, and emotion in their watercolor landscapes.
Profusely illustrated throughout, acclaimed artist and instructor Vladislav Yeliseyev shares his proven techniques for
harnessing light and shadow, creating luminous colors, and refining compositions to enhance realism and impact.
With step-by-step guidance, detailed demonstrations, and QR codes linking to exclusive video tutorials, "Light and Color
in the Watercolor Landscape" provides a deep dive into the fundamental and advanced methods needed to create stunning
paintings. Yeliseyev draws on his experience as an architectural illustrator and fine artist to teach:
How to compose compelling landscapes using focal points, balance, and perspective.
Techniques for layering washes to build depth and vibrant color harmony.
The role of values in creating striking, realistic lighting effects.
How to capture reflections, shadows, and atmospheric conditions in both plein air (outdoor) and studio settings.
Essential watercolor techniques, including wet-on-wet blending, dry-brush detailing, and edge control.
Whether you're an advanced beginner refining your techniques or an experienced watercolorist seeking new inspiration,
"Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape" is the ideal DIY instruction guide to elevating watercolor landscapes with
confidence and creativity.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches, 1.43 pounds) paperback edition of "Light and Color in the Watercolor
Landscape: Essential Principles and Techniques" from Rockport Publishing will prove to be of special and particular value
to aspiring artists wanting to paint various landscape themed images in watercolor. Thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in
organization and presentation, "Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape" is an excellent choice for personal,
professional, community, and art school watercolor painting instructional reference collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $26.99).
Editorial Note: Vladislav Yeliseyev (www.yeliseyevfineart.com ) is a highly respected watercolor artist, architectural
illustrator, and sought-after workshop instructor. He is a Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society, the
American Impressionist Society, and the Florida Watercolor Society, and has been invited to participate in many plein air
and landscape events as both a teacher and a juror. His articles have been published in Watercolor Artist, Plein Air
Magazine, The Art of Watercolour, and other publications, which have also featured his work on their covers. Through his
international workshops and online classes, Vlad shares his passion for capturing the beauty of landscapes with expressive
brushwork and a masterful command of light and color. He can be followed on: Instagram: @vladislavyeliseyev,
Facebook: @vladislav.yeliseyev, @ArtistYeliseyev, and YouTube: @VladislavYeliseyev
Drawing Class: Cats at Home and in the Wild
Heegyum Kim
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9781577156277, $17.99, PB, 128pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Class-Tutorials-tutorials-drawings/dp/1577156277
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drawing-class-heegyum-kim/1147794869
Synopsis: Now aspiring artists and art students can learn to draw 60 cats with step-by-step lessons and video tutorials with
"Drawing Class: Cats at Home and in the Wild" by Heegyum Kim who breaks down each drawing into easy-to-follow
steps, making it perfect for beginners.
With 60 unique drawing lessons, you will learn how to sketch everything from playful kittens to regal tigers and lions.
Each step-by-step tutorial is specifically designed to help you build confidence in your drawing abilities. Of special note is
the inclusion of QR codes throughout the book and linked to exclusive video tutorials, allowing you to follow along in real
time.
"Drawing Class: Cats at Home and in the Wild" is comprised of:
Step-by-step demonstrations for drawing 60 different cats, from fluffy Persians to sleek Siamese to wild cats like cheetahs
and tigers, and even domestic cat friends like dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
A simple shape-based drawing method that makes sketching accessible and stress-free.
Video tutorials accessible via QR codes for every drawing lesson.
Full-color variations of every subject for extra inspiration.
Critique: Profusely illustrated from cover to cover, "Drawing Class: Cats at Home and in the Wild" is thoroughly
reader/user friendly in organization and presentation, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended DIY instructional
resource for anyone seeking an easy way to start drawing, or who is an already experienced artist looking for fresh, fun
inspiration. Absolutely recommended for personal, professional, community, and college Art Instruction collections, and
art school/art class curriculum studies lists, "Drawing Class: Cats at Home and in the Wild" provides everything required
to bring domestic and feral felines to life on paper.
Editorial Note: Heegyum Kim is a graphic designer and illustrator. Also very highly recommended are two other DIY art
instruction titles by Kim: "Drawing Class: Animals" and "Drawing Class: Flowers and Friends in the Garden".
Editorial Note: Heegyum Kim (www.mrfox.nyc) is a graphic designer and illustrator. She holds a Master of Science in
Communication Design from Pratt Institute and is the author of two illustrated books featuring Mr. Fox, the charming and
humorous character whose activities and musings drive her popular Instagram account and make her followers giggle, as
do a menagerie of other delightful animal friends. She is also the author and illustrator behind several titles published by
Quarry Books: the Drawing Class series, which presents step-by-step illustrated instruction for 60 subjects along with
video tutorials accessible via QR codes; and the Draw 62... and Make Them Cute series, which provides step-by-step
illustrations for drawing different types of cute characters.
The Mythology Shelf
Aine: Goddess of the Sun, Fairy Queen of Ireland
Kelle BanDea
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803419428, $12.95, PB, 104pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Goddess-Fairy-Ireland/dp/1803419423
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pagan-portals-aine-kelle-bandea/1146850782
Synopsis: Aine is a popular Irish goddess known for her associations with love, fertility and the sun, celebrated at the
height of summer and at the first harvests. A fairy queen of the Tuatha de Danaan, she is beloved both by the Irish people
whose land she is entwined with and by neopagans across the world. Even her name means 'bright.'
But she also has a dark side. Caution may be advised. For Aine is also known as a dark muse in Victorian fairytales, a
neopagan goddess who seeks justice and revenge for trauma survivors, and a powerful queen of the hollow hills in native
Irish folklore.
Critique: Part of the Pagan Portals mythology series from Moon Books, "Aine: Goddess of the Sun, Fairy Queen of
Ireland" is an ideal introduction for modern readers to Aine and also suggests ways to honor her in as a practitioner, as well
as exploring her deep and complex history within the Irish pantheon of supernatural beings. Fun, informative, thoughtful
and thought-provoking, "Aine: Goddess of the Sun, Fairy Queen of Ireland" is an ideal and solidly recommended addition
to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Irish Mythology collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Aine: Goddess of the Sun, Fairy Queen of
Ireland" from Moon Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Kelle BanDea is a neurodivergent mother of three with Traveller heritage. She currently lives in
Warwickshire in the UK with her partner, children and a varied assortment of animals. She has postgraduate degrees in
Feminist Theology and Creative Writing and you can find more of her work at kellebandea@substack.com
The Genealogy Shelf
Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch
Dana Ann Palmer
Genealogical Publishing Company
www.genealogical.com
9780806322094, $60.00, PB, 238pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Mastering-FamilySearch-Palmer/dp/0806322098
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ultimate-guide-to-mastering-familysearch-dana-ann-palmer/1148623798
Genealogical Publishing Company
https://genealogical.com/mastering-familysearch-by-dana-ann-palmer
Synopsis: FamilySearch.com is a vast treasure trove of genealogical sources from North America and around the world
containing over 20 billion records with 2.5 billion new records added annually.
With the publication of the "Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch", genealogist Dana Ann Palmer provides a DIY
guide that will teach anyone and everyone how to find records and other resources they need to be successful on this
extraordinary website.
The individual chapters are organized topically, with a focus on finding people in historical records, the FamilySearch
catalog, images, full-text search, the FamilySearch Research Wiki, the FamilySearch TREE, and more.
Palmer also shares the search tips and tricks she has devised over her decades of experience and expertise using
FamilySearch. This guide contains step-by-step instructions for successfully applying Ms. Palmer's methodology to find
your own ancestors.
Critique: Unique, informative, expertly written, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Ultimate
Guide to Mastering FamilySearch" by Dana Ann Palmer is a critically important, essential, and core addition to personal,
family, professional, community, and college/university library Genealogical Research collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this large format (8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches, 1.24 pounds) paperback edition of
"Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch" is also available in a digital book format (eBook, $29.95) from the
Genealogical Publishing Company.
Editorial Note: Dana Ann Palmer, CG (R), CGL (R) has taught genealogy since 1996, including over a decade of courses
at Sinclair Community College. Her live sessions at RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society Conference, Legacy
Family Tree Webinars, and the International German Genealogy Partnership Conference are consistently
standing-room-only. A respected professional genealogist, Dana specializes in Ohio research, lineage-society applications,
and publishing family history books. She also serves on the General Society of Mayflower Descendants' Silver Books
team.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life
Mary-Grace Fahrun
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781578638871, $18.95, PB, 224pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Folk-Magic-Crafting-Magical/dp/1578638879
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-folk-magic-mary-grace-fahrun/1146811772
Synopsis: Folk magic exists in every culture and has been practiced since the dawn of time. Folk magic is far more than the
casting a spell or the creation a ritual. It is a way of life, a way of living, a way of perceiving the world and all within
it.
With the publication of "Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life", Mary-Grace Fahrun explains how to build
an entire folk magic practice, ranging from cleansing and protecting to blessing and cursing, as well as providing
instructions on how to build altars (whether openly or secretly), practice divination, communicate with spirits, and
more.
Supported by the "four pillars of magic," these elements serve to provide stability, structure, and protection:
Cleansing: to remove negative energy
Blessing: to imbue with love
Protecting: to charge with energy that repels evil
Defending: to combat evil
With "Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life", Mary-Grace Fahrun shares her magical perspective and
processes in the hope of inspiring both beginners and experienced practitioners of Folk magic.
Critique: Exceptionally informative, impressively insightful, thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and
presentation, "Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life" offers a full and complete course of instruction in a
DIY format that is an ideal instructional guide and 'how-to' manual for both novice and experienced folk magic enthusiasts
alike. Of special note are the chapters on Common Folk Magic Spells From Around The World and Unearthing Roots: A
Practical Guide To Finding Information. While highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Living Folk
Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life" from Weiser Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and
as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228724891, $36.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Mary-Grace Fahrun (www.rueskitchen.com) is the author of the influential book "Italian Folk Magic: Rue's
Kitchen Witchery" and also the creatrix of Rue's Kitchen, her website dedicated to the preservation of Italian folk
practices. Residing in British Columbia, Canada. Mary-Grace can be visited at Instagram @rueskitchen, and YouTube
@MaryGraceFahrun
Chaos Magic: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Ivy Corvus
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803418728, $12.95, PB, 136pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Chaos-Complete-Beginners/dp/1803418729
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pagan-portals-chaos-magic-ivy-corvus/1147738197
Synopsis: Chaos magic emerged in England in the 1970s as part of the wider neo-pagan and esoteric subculture. It drew
heavily from the occult beliefs of artist Austin Osman Spare, expressed several decades earlier. Magical organizations
within this tradition include the Illuminates of Thanateros and Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth.
Part of the simply outstanding "Pagan Portals' series from Moon Books, "Chaos Magic: A Complete Beginner's Guide" is
divided into two parts (Theory and Praxis) and is a basic primer for those seeking to explore the philosophies of chaos
magic, its principles and practical applications.
In Part One, you will learn to harness the power of intention, belief, and creativity not only to shape your reality according
to your desires but also to decondition your mind, remove limiting beliefs, enter altered states of consciousness, achieve
gnosis, and more.
In Part Two, you will learn to work with sigils, hypersigils, and magical entities, as well as explore powerful techniques,
such as visualization and invocation, and the controversial realm of pop-culture magic.
Presenting an understanding of the core concepts of chaos magic, "Chaos Magic: A Complete Beginner's Guide" provides
insight into how to embrace chaos and unleash the mad scientist within. With it, your reality is yours to create.
Critique: "Chaos Magic: A Complete Beginner's Guide" is an ideal introduction to the metaphysical concepts that have
collectively become known as 'Chaos Magic', this exceptionally well written, organized and presented paperback edition
from Moon Books is especially appropriate for community and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections.
For the benefit of aspiring students and practitioners of Chaos Magic, as well as non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Chaos Magic: A Complete Beginner's Guide" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Ivy Corvus is an American occultist, chaote, witch and psychic with a history of ceremonial magic,
paganism, and Zen Buddhism. She is both a healthcare practitioner and an undergraduate student: double-majoring in
psychology and molecular biosciences. Her passion lies in understanding the interconnectedness of the universe and
guiding others along their spiritual journeys. (https://www.youtube.com/@IvyTheOccultist)
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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