Staff Picks Adult
September 2024
An Honest Lie
by Tarryn Fisher
An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher is a must read suspense novel. The author dives deep into the main character, Rainy, by altering the timeline between the present and the past. Rainy has moved to remote mountain area to be with her boyfriend from New York City. As she entwines her life with his group of friends, Rainy hesitantly agrees to visit Las Vegas with the group of girls for a weekend getaway. During this trip, Rainy’s story unfolds as her past comes back to haunt her. The weekend takes on an unexpected and dramatic twist which puts both her life and the life of one of her new found friends at risk.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and on Hoopla as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Alice Grabowski, Administrative Clerk
Posted in: Adult Fiction
August 2024
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
by Gabrielle Zevin
Posted in: Adult Fiction
God of the Woods
by Liz Moore
A mystery twofer told in dual timelines. One child who has gone missing in 1961; another 1975. Both are from the prestigious Van Laar family and owners of the camp. The setting is in the wooded area of the Adirondacks. But don’t be fooled by the beauty of the landscape. Something ugly is happening in these woods. This story is stacked with multiple characters, multiple scenarios and multiple suspects.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Chris Schultz, Graphics Information Clerk
Posted in: Adult Fiction
July 2024
The Key to Rebecca
by Ken Follett
Ken Follett’s The Key to Rebecca is a thrilling historical fiction novel about espionage and adventure that takes place during WWII. The story revolves around a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between Alex Wolff, a German spy, and Major William Vandam, a British intelligence officer. Wolff, inspired by the real-life spy Johannes Eppler, uses the novel “Rebecca” as a code to transmit crucial military secrets to the Axis powers. Vandam, tasked with stopping Wolff, must decipher the spy’s code and prevent the fall of Cairo. I enjoyed Follett’s engaging and fast passed writing and his ability to describe vivid atmospheric settings. I felt fully immersed in the sweltering heat of the Egyptian dessert… although it probably helped that I was reading this outside during the summer! The historical accuracy and attention to detail enhance the authenticity of the story, making it as educational as it is entertaining. It’s a novel with exciting and unexpected twists and turns. For fans of historical fiction and spy-thrillers, this book is a must read.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Manningtree Witches
by A.K. Blakemore
A.K. Blakemore’s The Manningtree Witches is a haunting historical re-imagining that transports readers to the harrowing days of the English witch hunts of the 17th century. The story follows Rebecca West, a poor young woman and her mother who are desperately trying to get by. Their lives, along with those of several other women in the town, are upended when the infamous self-proclaimed witchfinder Matthew Hopkins arrives, bringing with him paranoia and suspicion. The book vividly captures the oppressive atmosphere of the time, where accusations of witchcraft were fueled by personal vendettas and societal anxieties. The poetic language used in the book is not especially easy to follow but I think that it adds to the authenticity of the period. This story was impressive to me because Matthew Hopkins died young and very little is known of him other than his witchfinding and the women are only known through the records of the trials, so Blakemore has created her story from very little information. In the afterword, Blakemore suggests that her goal in writing this story was to give a voice to the persecuted and voiceless women of the time. I would say that she succeeded!
This book is available at the library and on Hoopla as an e audiobook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The House Across the Lake
by Riley Sager
Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake is a thrilling, suspenseful, and spooky story that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down! The novel intertwines elements of mystery, phycological tension, and unexpected twists, making this a must-read for fans of gripping thrillers. The story centers around Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress seeking solace at her family’s lake house. Her retreat takes a sinister turn when she becomes entangled in the lives of her mysterious neighbors, Tom and Katherine Royce. Casey’s fascination quickly escalates into obsession, leading her to uncover secrets that are as shocking as they are dangerous. What made this thriller different for me was Sager’s use of misdirection. I was kept guessing at every turn! The final reveal however, was both satisfying and chilling. While the story was highly entertaining, I would suggest looking up trigger warnings for the book before reading. There are instances of drowning, alcoholism, abuse, and more. If these topics bother you I would suggest choosing a different book.
This book is available at the library and on OverDrive/Libby as a ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Horrorstör
by Grady Hendrix
Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör is a unique comedy / horror / ghost story that takes place in a haunted ORSK Furniture Superstore, a clear parody of an IKEA Home Furniture store. If you are a frequent shopper at IKEA then you will understand the humor of the novel. The characters themselves aren’t funny, but the author’s tongue-and-cheek descriptions of the layout of the store, the furniture, and the products is what made me laugh out loud. Don’t skip the pictures! Read everything, even the order numbers! There is satire everywhere. I appreciated the design of the physical book as it included maps, ads, flyers, order forms, and coupons to make it look like a printed IKEA catalog, when those still existed. The story was vividly horrific, but also funny and relatable to anyone who has worked in retail. The book follows three employees who volunteer to work a 9 hour dusk-till-dawn shift to see why something strange is happening at their ORSK Furniture Superstore. A seemingly unremarkable night of patrolling the showroom quickly escalates into a terrifying ordeal as supernatural forces reveal themselves. The story does get pretty gruesome, but those scary moments are punctuated with humor, like when the characters use sickeningly sweet vanilla scented candles (JÄMLIK at IKEA) to perform a séance or when one of the characters, locked inside a module closet, easily escapes because they had an Allen key (the small tool that comes with every IKEA furniture purchase) in their pocket. The book does have some meaningful moments between the characters, but the concept of “death by the corporate grind” is emphasized as the overarching theme.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
How Can I Help You
by Laura Sims
Laura Sims’ How Can I Help You plunges readers into a chilling and unsettling world, lurking beneath the mundane surface of a small-town library. What begins as an ordinary setting quickly unravels into a haunting tale of obsession, secrecy, and murder that will leave readers with a lingering sense of unease. The story focuses on two unreliable and exceptionally dislikable heroines, Margo and Patricia, who are both librarians at the small-town library. As soon as they meet, they are suspicious of one another’s behaviors and intentions. It is an exciting, smart, dark, and entertaining story that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you work at a library or even frequent one, it is entertaining to hear about the day-to-day office politics, camaraderie, and patron conflicts that are depicted. It is easy to tell that the author is a librarian! I know I will think of this book next time I answer the phone or address a patron with the phrase “How can I help you?” After reading this book you won’t be looking at your local librarian the same way again!
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In
by Kate Kennedy
Kate Kennedy’s One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In is a relatable and entertaining memoir exploring the millennial experience. As a millennial myself, it was validating to hear Kennedy’s life stories and how similar they were to my own during childhood growing up in the Midwest. I especially resonated with her exploration of fangirl culture, since that was how I connected with my peers and made new friends. She delves into the passion and community that fandoms can create and the joy that comes from shared interests. I appreciate that she also critiques the sometimes toxic dynamics that can arise within fan communities. The chapter where Kennedy reminisces about mall culture also brought back good memories. I loved the sights, sounds, and smells of the mall: the fountain at the center always filled with pennies, going to Clare’s not to get cheap jewelry, but to buy Chupa Chups Spice Girls themed lollipops, digging though the barrels of mini hand sanitizers at Bath and Body Works in search of Cucumber Melon, and trolling the Walden Books boy band calendar section. This book offers a heartfelt exploration of growing up in the 90s and the challenges and joys we are experiencing now in modern adulthood. It offers humorous, honest, and insightful commentary. I would recommend this for fans of personal essays and contemporary reflections on life.
This book is available on OverDrive/Libby as an e audiobook and ebook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction