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S.A. Cosby does not mince words, tolerate racism or sugarcoat a history of violence in his native Virginia. His superpower against this hatred is the mighty pen and once again his words and story seep into your head and stay with you even as you shake your head in disbelief that the world can be so cruel. Former FBI Titus Crown is the first black sheriff in his small town and dealing with a horrific school shooting resulting in the death of a beloved white teacher by a black teen. When the shooter is gunned down this sets off a powder keg. Titus finds proof that the slain teacher was part of a ritual killing spree targeting black children he won't rest until all the these killers are found. Powerful, violent and a sad reminder that not all children are treasured. Titus is a spiritual man but whoever is carving bible quotes into the victims does not serve the same god. He is deeply attached to the town he grew up in and his family but this evil might just break him. Fans of his other books will read this in one sitting as will readers of Southern crime or horror like THE ANGEL MAKER. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration whose voice is as smooth as sweet tea which got me through the violent parts. 4 1/2 stars 
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A strange pandemic is gripping London (sound familiar?) and Neffy has signed up for a clinical trial of a new drug to combat it. She awakens after a bad reaction only to discover that the world they knew is gone and the staff have abandoned them. One of the few people left has a prototype for a memory device that allows the user to "revisit" favorite memories. For Neffy this is a blessing and a curse and soon with no future to look to she becomes addicted to the machine and the past. Through these memories she goes through her childhood and her fraught career as a marine biologist and in her spare time she writes letters to one of her subjects, an octopus. This is an interesting look at when the lab worker becomes the lab specimen as if to make amends and "a fly caught under the glass" look at how people react to a crisis. Neffy could not reconcile the treatment of these marine animals that felt cruel and the respect she had for the octopus and upended her career. I loved the back story of the world of the octopus which was full of fascinating facts. 4 stars  This is the book for all those kids who wanted to run away not to the circus but to the land of their favorite stories. Lucy is a hard working teacher's assistant with an oversized heart and one wish - to officially adopt the little boy in the foster system that she has come to love. There is one catch and that is that Lucy is not financially able to care for Christopher yet and she is saving every cent she can. She and Christopher have gotten through the dark times by reading a children's book series about Master Mastermind and Clock Island where wishes are granted if you prove yourself worthy. The author of the series has become a recluse but he is holding a contest for a select few with a prize so special that it will grant more than a couple of wishes. Lucy is invited and if she wins she will finally be able to have Christopher call her mom. Reminiscent of all those childhood classics complete with a quest, hidden clues, riddles and bravery with the adult bonus of making amends. Kudos to all the unsung heroes who make wishes come true without looking for recognition. Brilliant story writing with emotional ups and downs that will appeal to fans of THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY and THE READING LIST. 4 1/2 stars  Grandma Olivia wants to see Graceland before she dies (no she is not dying) so she talks her granddaughter Dylan into driving her by dangling a big carrot - the identity of Dylan's dad and where he is living. This is the same dad that Dylan's mom, Hope has told her is dead. Hope agreed to stay away from Memphis but now with her mom and daughter on the lam she has no choice but to leave her crazy busy work and chase after them. Multi generational family drama with a cast of colorful characters, a Thelma and Louise roadtrip to the south in a VW bug that is falling apart and plenty of politics and drama along the way as well as Elvis mania. This will be a fun summer read. 3 1/2 stars  Long Island summer where the rich go to escape the city and Alex has fled to escape period. Alex is a twenty something who is coasting through life on the grace and credit card of her older boyfriend for the summer cannot return to the city now that her roommates want nothing to do with her, her friends have all disappeared and her old boyfriend demands that she return his calls. Convinced that her current boyfriend will come around and he didn't mean to kick her out forever, she just has to hang out for a little bit longer. There is nothing she won't do, no one she won't lie to and manipulate to get what she needs - a bit more time. Alex is a train wreck and you are hopelessly pulled into her path of destruction and desperation. After so many near misses her past mistakes are going to catch up with her right? Perfect for followers of Anna Delvey or THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY. 4 stars  A misfit family that seems to meet the grueling climate chaos usually with a stiff drink. The parents live in California with their daughter in Florida and both are reeling after constant rains, droughts, hurricanes that seem to be endless. While some think that the path forward is found in eating bugs, maintaining bee hives and driving a Tesla they still seem to use a lot of fuel, eat at fast food restaurants and buy whatever they feel like. Their daughter Cat can't even take care of a pet python losing it almost immediately so she buys another. T.C. Boyle's sarcastic wit points a finger at all those who say they want to do better in saving the planet and living a natural life but have no intention of giving anything up. 3 stars  A brutally honest look at beauty and how we are affected by it. Trinidad is an island that depends on wealth from tourism and business and success comes from knowing people in power. Bianca comes from a wealthy family centered in politics but has managed pretty much on her own since her mother's death. She is a classic beauty who has had success modeling and wants to be a writer but that dream is gone since her affair with a married politician was made public. Eager to prove that she is more than a pretty face she takes a PR and writing job for a makeup artist who is giving everything he has to create a beauty empire. His brusque manner gets in the way of helping his younger sister or seeing Bianca for more than a cheap model but he is more caring than she first perceived. There is so much universal truth here about positive body image, makeup to make you feel empowered not to entice a man and how the powerful can lift up a young woman or crush her soul. I listened to the audiobook and the melodic narrator's voices made this book even more enjoyable. 4 stars  This is one of those "good people caught up in a bad situation" and "being in the wrong place at the wrong time" kind of stories. Lindburgh's Pharmacy in Athens Georgia has been around forever. It is the place to go to fill a prescription but also to hang out with friends and grab a soda fountain treat but more might be happening behind the scenes than we know. We get into the lives and heads of several people all with secret dreams or issues that they basically keep to themselves and just get on with their lives until the day they come together that changes everything. It will take one passionate teacher who feels compelled to do something to bring down a house of cards. It is a small town story filled with family drama, lost dreams and loyalty that only Will Leitch can tell. Fans of southern family drama will fall hard for this. 4 1/2 stars  What gives you the right to tell your ethnic story? After June witnesses her writer friend/enemy's death and "happens" upon her undiscovered manuscript, she takes it for her own. Athena's story is very personal to her Asian heritage about Chinese laborers helping the war effort in WWII Europe. After tweaking Athena's story, checking facts and making it her own, June feels like Athena gave her a shell and she created a masterpiece. She sells the manuscript, changes her name to sound Asian and uses her flimsy relationship with Athena to gain credibility and fame. As the pub date nears June begins to feel guilt and uncertainty creep in plus there is at least one person out there who has a problem with the whole scenario and upend everything. Was it June's story to tell at all? Will she be haunted by Athena's ghost forever? This story will resonate with book clubs as it addresses the question of plagiarism and creative content rights but also the right to tell ethnic heritage stories that you are not part of. There is also the interesting dive into the publishing business and social media circus. They say there is no such thing as an original story anymore but where do we draw the line? 4 1/2 stars  On camera Tom Hanks comes across as humble, honest and immediately likable and his writing comes across the same way. He sees humor in the human emotions and actions of the every person and shines a light on people who aren't usually in the spotlight. We start with a lonely boy who is changed by a visit from his heroic uncle who introduces the boy to comic books in 1947. Jump to current day and a movie producer wants to make a major motion picture masterpiece out of the comic book the boy modeled after the uncle. The producer has to get things moving quickly and he is good at giving people a chance who go above and beyond doing their mediocre jobs. From the motel desk person who listens and acts to the lead actress who is a down to earth anti-diva. We now are privy to all the hullabaloo that goes into the production of a movie - something Tom Hanks knows a thing or two about. This domino effect of finding this wonderful crew is the only way this movie will get finished. It all comes together in rapid fire dialogue , comic book pages and about a hundred notations delivered in a funny down to earth style. And yes, I am happy to report there is mention of a typewriter. His many fans plus readers of stories featuring oddball characters with big hearts will enjoy this. 4 stars  |
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