• FICTION

    DOWN THE WELL

    DEC. 19, 2023

FICTION

DOWN THE WELL

by Joseph Blackhurst

An inventive, multi-layered horror novel structured around a cryptic document. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    THERE'S A TORTOISE IN MY HAIR

  • NONFICTION

    THE REAL GATSBY

    MARCH 1, 2024

NONFICTION

THE REAL GATSBY

by Mickey Rathbun

An engrossing history of a remarkable man and the time that shaped him. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • TEEN

    UGLIER

    JULY 31, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT

UGLIER

by Kelly Vincent

A powerfully moving YA novel that will hopefully enlighten as much as it entertains. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    TODAY, OH BOY

    MARCH 31, 2023

FICTION

TODAY, OH BOY

by Wesley Moore

Dazzling characters front this quietly sublime period piece. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    WHAT MEETS THE EYE

    DEC. 23, 2022

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

WHAT MEETS THE EYE

by Riesa Dow

Anchored by two tough yet likable sleuths, this is a rousing character-based mystery with potential. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    IN THE LAIR OF LEGENDS

    AUG. 10, 2023

FICTION

IN THE LAIR OF LEGENDS

by David Buzan

An effective western thriller graced by a memorable protagonist. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    DRAGON GARAGE

    OCT. 8, 2023

GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS

DRAGON GARAGE

by James Turner

A silly and exciting flight of fancy in the form of a thoughtfully crafted graphic novel. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    LAUREN IN THE LIMELIGHT

    SEPT. 1, 2023

CHILDREN'S

LAUREN IN THE LIMELIGHT

by Miriam Landis ; illustrated by Jill Cecil

Impossible to put down—even if ballet isn’t your thing. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    MUSINGS 2022

NONFICTION

MUSINGS 2022

by Denis O’Neill

A peppery and unfailingly compelling set of reactions to one calamitous year. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    SUKEY'S UNFINISHED MISSION

    JUNE 22, 2023

CHILDREN'S

SUKEY'S UNFINISHED MISSION

by Sue Agauas

Young readers will be mesmerized by the magical elements that Sukey encounters in this supernatural adventure. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    RAVEN'S GRAVE

    SEPT. 19, 2023

FICTION

RAVEN'S GRAVE

by Charlotte Stuart

A solidly constructed and very satisfying murder mystery set in a largely vanished Alaska. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THINGS UNSEEN

    AUG. 15, 2023

MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

THINGS UNSEEN

by David T. Isaak

A satisfying and thought-provoking mystery with an enthralling cast. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    EARTHLY VESSELS

    MAY 14, 2024

FICTION

EARTHLY VESSELS

by David T. Isaak

A refreshingly unique take on the eternal battle of good versus evil that amuses while it philosophizes. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    A MAP OF THE EDGE

FICTION

A MAP OF THE EDGE

by David T. Isaak

An atmospheric, eloquent depiction of teen angst and discovery in the twilight years of California’s counterculture era. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    TOMORROWVILLE

    FEB. 15, 2023

FICTION

TOMORROWVILLE

by David T. Isaak

A cautionary tale of a cruel, authoritarian America of the future that’s leavened by barbed wit and irreverence. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • TEEN

    THE IMAGINAERIUM ENGINE

    JUNE 1, 2018

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT

THE IMAGINAERIUM ENGINE

by Clifford Wayne

A lively and fantastical adventure through Arthurian legend and Depression-era Texas. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS

    OCT. 24, 2023

CHILDREN'S

HER EYES WERE ON THE STARS

by Jennifer Sommer ; illustrated by Gayle Cobb

An essential acknowledgement of an under-sung scientist. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    ELMWOOD

    SEPT. 1, 2023

FICTION

ELMWOOD

by Ian Karraker

A fine introduction to Elmwood, which horror fans will find a nice place to visit. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    MY MOTHER'S WAR

    JULY 18, 2023

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

MY MOTHER'S WAR

by Michael Fryd

A candid and compelling multigenerational account that honors Holocaust survivors. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    US EMBASSIES OF THE COLD WAR

    SEPT. 19, 2023

NONFICTION

US EMBASSIES OF THE COLD WAR

by David B. Peterson

A unique architectural history well suited for enthusiasts of American history and international relations. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    BODIES OF WATER

    AUG. 3, 2023

FICTION

BODIES OF WATER

by Claire Baldwin Harrison

A thoughtful coming-of-age story that takes unexpected turns. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE LAST LAIRD OF SAPELO

    AUG. 15, 2023

FICTION

THE LAST LAIRD OF SAPELO

by T.M. Brown

A well-researched Civil War drama, highly informative about cotton’s importance to both sides. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    ALWAYS IN LOVE WITH AMY

    OCT. 6, 2022

NONFICTION

ALWAYS IN LOVE WITH AMY

by Ann Y. Smitherman

A heartfelt, bittersweet, cathartic family portrait that’s imbued with illness and compassion at its core. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    REALIA

    OCT. 23, 2020

CHILDREN'S

REALIA

by Ulric Alvin Watts

A compact, high-IQ SF story that bundles some rewarding surprises into its middle-grade setting. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE BLIND BIDDER'S EYE

    AUG. 13, 2015

FICTION

THE BLIND BIDDER'S EYE

by Oscar Seurat

An inventive puzzle of a novel by a writer of singular vision. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    THE CLIFFS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

    DEC. 15, 2023

  • NONFICTION

    FROM SCONES TO CORN PONES

    FEB. 14, 2023

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

FROM SCONES TO CORN PONES

by Liz Carson Keith

A thoughtful family genealogy that doesn’t shy away from the problematic complexities of history. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    YOU NEVER KNEW ME

    NOV. 11, 2023

FICTION

YOU NEVER KNEW ME

by Marty Almquist

A light addition to the adventures-in-Paris genre offers cozy fun to fans of travel fiction and tender love stories. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FLAME

FICTION

THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FLAME

by Renaii West

A whodunit with twists and turns and some literary pyrotechnics. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    WAYS TO DISAPPEAR

    AUG. 1, 2023

FICTION

WAYS TO DISAPPEAR

by Victoria Lancelotta

A dazzling collection of stories covering rough emotional terrain. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    THE DESTINATION BIRTH

    JUNE 10, 2023

NONFICTION

THE DESTINATION BIRTH

by Alex Bisset

An upbeat birth and childcare memoir from a father’s perspective. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • TEEN

    PHEEMIE'S WAR

    AUG. 1, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT

PHEEMIE'S WAR

by Kate Reynolds

A blend of war story and coming-of-age novel sure to hold the readers’ attention. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    TROUBLE'S DEFENSE

    JAN. 1, 2023

CHILDREN'S

TROUBLE'S DEFENSE

by Janet Breuer ; illustrated by Sarah Hoyle

A solid companion piece, especially for cat lovers. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    THE GALAXY ACCORDING TO CECE

    FEB. 24, 2024

CHILDREN'S

THE GALAXY ACCORDING TO CECE

by Sherry Roberts

Young readers will enjoy this engaging mystery with a complex protagonist. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    LIVE FREE AND HIKE: FINDING GRACE ON 48 SUMMITS

    JUNE 15, 2023

NONFICTION

LIVE FREE AND HIKE: FINDING GRACE ON 48 SUMMITS

by Linda Kulig Magoon

An often engaging story of a hiking enthusiast regaining her autonomy after a divorce. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE CRYSTAL SKULL

    OCT. 22, 2021

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

THE CRYSTAL SKULL

by Daniela Valenti

An entertaining blend of murder mystery, romance, and the paranormal. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    HECATE’S LABYRINTH

    MARCH 30, 2021

FICTION

HECATE’S LABYRINTH

by Michael Lightsey

A sensational cast fuels this exuberant tale that baffles as often as it charms. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    MYASTHENIA GRAVIS: THE MUSICAL!

FICTION

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS: THE MUSICAL!

by Jane Marla Robbins

A mercurial book of confessional poems that speaks to the grief and fury of illness. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THIRD WHEEL

    AUG. 21, 2023

FICTION

THIRD WHEEL

by Richard Becker

A dark and skillful teenage crime novel with plenty of heart. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    BROKEN HEARTS & OTHER HORRORS

    MAY 25, 2023

FICTION

BROKEN HEARTS & OTHER HORRORS

by Xavier Poe Kane

Striking characters drive this worthwhile batch of unnerving stories. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • CHILDREN'S

    SILLY CAT AND FRIENDS MAKE BELIEVE

    NOV. 8, 2023

CHILDREN'S

SILLY CAT AND FRIENDS MAKE BELIEVE

by Lorraine Abrams ; illustrated by Eva Vagreti

Fans of funny animals will find tame humor, vocabulary-building language, and accessible rhymes here. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    FANGS BARED

    APRIL 23, 2022

FICTION

FANGS BARED

by Brandon Pawlicki

A fervent hero headlines this engrossing end-of-days zombie tale. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

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