THIRD PLACE BOOKS - Key Persons
A Lady's Formula for Love (The Secret Scientists of London #1) (Paperback)
Anthony Horowitz is the best-selling author of the Alex Rider children's novels. He is also the man chosen by the estates of both Arthur Conan Doyle and Ian Fleming to continue the iconic Sherlock Holmes and James Bond series. Additionally, he is the author of my favorite book of 2017, The Magpie Murders, an homage to the great Agatha Christie. But in The Word is Murder, Anthony Horowitz is more than just an author of popular fiction; he is a character in his own book. Approached by disgraced detective inspector Daniel Hawthorne to write a true crime book detailing the murder investigation of Diana Cowper, Anthony finds himself visiting the scene of the crime, interviewing suspects, sparring with Hawthorne and possibly even solving the case himself. Delightfully inventive, the word is entertaining!
Cal Cunningham has written the latest Great American Novel; too bad he stole the manuscript from his dead roommate. Now if he can only keep his beautiful new wife, high-powered literary agent and the rest of America from finding out. What should be a morality tale will have you rooting for the villain all the way.
Cara Black has entertained us for over twenty years with her series featuring Aimee Ledue, a young, stylish PI who knows 1990's Paris inside and out. Who better to write a World War II thriller set in Paris starring young American widow Kate Rees who has been selected by the British and trained as a sniper with one goal: to assassinate Hitler on his brief, 3 hour stop in Paris.
If you love mysteries but also enjoy The Nightingale or The Alice Network, Cara Black has written a book for you!
Chanel Miller doesn't remember being sexually assaulted by Brock Turner because she was unconscious at the time. She does, however, remember all that ensued in the aftermath and in Know My Name she recounts every eviscerating detail. Miller's story is deeply personal, but it is not unique. She writes beautifully and courageously about the ugly processes that follow her assault: medical exams, trials, therapy, and the struggle she faces to simply get through each day. Constantly barraged with the repercussions of her assault, Miller is unable to forget an event she doesn't even remember. In revealing her identity-she was previously referred to simply as "Emily Doe"-Miller owns her narrative and proves that victimhood does not make a person powerless.
Daniel Clowes is a master, and Monica is continuing proof of this. Dense with niche visual references to vintage comics and old Hollywood actors (highly recommend checking out his New Yorker "tour" of these), Monica is a meandering, freaky, multi-perspective/multi-reality exploration of, basically, one character and her relationship to her mother. Monica will swallow you whole!
Danny Goldberg was more than a band manager to Nirvana but a friend and confidant, especially to Kurt Cobain, at the height of their career. He is able to share the good and the bad, without idolizing or demonizing Cobain, in this look behind the music scene of the early nineties punk rock and grunge surge. So sit back, maybe unplug with Unplugged in the background, and enjoy.
Elizabeth Everett is among the top tier of writing subversive, historical romance. This book has all her hallmarks and more: sparkling prose, an independent and big-hearted heroine, and a hero that shows swoon-worthy growth. Top it all off with a major theme of reproductive freedom and an explicit pro-abortion stance and I'm sold!
Emily Henry has that thing in her writing. It's the slow unfurling of character development and the gentle way she draws together her love interests. Just like Beach Read, I was completely charmed by People We Meet on Vacation. Friends-to-lovers isn't always my favorite romance trope, by it was done so right in this book. I can't recommend it enough!
Franny Choi's ideas are rooted in science fiction but stretch into fully human ideas of gender and identity. Cyborg and human speakers morph into each other as you progress through the poems, creating a new framework for understanding the self through technology. Eventually, these cyborgs sound more like humans, insecure and sheepish (try page 19 for "Turing Test_Emotional Response" if this interests you). I imagine this book would be even more fun to read if you were more well-versed in science fiction than I am; the poems are often laden with references. There's a lot going on in this book, but Choi finds balance: for every cleverly robotic turn of phrase, there's a heady sensory description.
Iris Carmichael has spent her life feeling second best to her twin, Summer. Born moments apart and identical to the naked eye, Summer nonetheless has always been the beloved golden child while Iris is the prickly black sheep. But the race to be the sole heir of their father's massive estate is the one time Iris is determined to be the "first" twin.
Joanna Lowell is one of my top historic romance authors, so it's no suprise that I would love this book. However, it's obvious this is the book of her heart. Kit, the main character, is a trans-masculine artist and cyclist in Victorian Cornwall navigating how to finally live life as himself. The romance between him and Muriel is tender, authentic, and full loving exploration. This book was written in collaboration with Lowell's partner, who is also trans-masculine and a historian. The resulting story is probably my favorite read of 2024.
Johan Friedrich von Allmen, well-educated, heir to a vast fortune, never employed, has found himself in reduced circumstances. Forced to relocate to the gardenhouse of his Swiss estate with only his resourceful Guatemalan butler, Carlos, for company, Allmen is in desperate need of funds. When an opportunity to pilfer Art Nouveau glass bowls from a neighbor arises, Allmen becomes first thief then detective in this delightful crime caper.
Joseph Coppock is a boy who spends his time reading comic books, playing marbles and collecting eggs and bones for his museum. His life takes a dramatic turn after he meets Treacle Walker, a rag-and-bone man who opens his eyes to a new way of seeing. Bursting with language you can sink your teeth into and chew on for a while this curious book is a fable in the vein of Susan Cooper and George MacDonald about time and magic. If audiobooks are your thing, this one is beautifully read. It's only 90 minutes so I listened twice to spend more time in this unusual world.
Kevin Nguyen's latest novel, My Documents, hit hard for me. Even the name touches on the duality of what the characters face. In Vietnamese, My is the word for America, and much like the characters in the book, this duality questions what does American mean? What does safety look like? And most damning of all, who gets to make the final decision for everyone on either matter? This work of speculative fiction weaves together the truths of real life Japanese internment camps, the rising Asian American hate post-COVID, and asks what would happen if such violence erupted again on US soil? Following several members of the Nguyen family, from oldest matriarch to youngest grandchild, the story is told sparingly and bluntly about their different reactions and experiences both pre-internment and post-internment. I've written and rewritten this review several times. As a Vietnamese American and a refugee, I found myself erasing words and the emotions they evoked, and tried to focus on the story being told. But I cannot stop myself from seeing me, and my mother, and my children, staring back at me from the pages.
Maya Abu Al-Hayyat's U.S. poetry debut is a striking collection spanning almost 20 years of poetic work, organized for this edition into sections which move in reverse chronological order. This editorial decision is emblematic of the clear care, creativity, and ingenuity that was put into the translation and organization of this collection. The poet's sense of language is clear-eyed, and she gracefully steps between personal glimpses into her relationships and vignettes of violence and the hairy history of Palestinian life. I am so glad her voice is being spread to English-speaking readers.
Megan Miranda is at the top of her game with The Only Survivors. Ten years ago, a school volunteer trip ended in tragedy as all but nine students perished when the bus plunged into a raging river. Despite, or perhaps because of, their shared trauma, the "only survivors" have made an unspoken pact: to gather every year on the anniversary, to watch out for one another as their numbers dwindle, to never let outsiders know the horror of what they experienced that day. This year is different though, the cracks in their bond are not just internal, someone else knows their secrets and they are not alone
Like author Michelle Zauner, I also lost a parent in 2014. While reading Crying in the H Mart I was vividly transported back to that time through Zauner's careful writing, reliving the same pain and grief, but also feeling the powerful love of family that emerges from such difficult times. This is a beautiful, emotional memoir that captures the heartbreak of losing a parent perfectly.
Nellie Bly has been in my peripheral for a while, but I haven't done much to delve into her story. This book, a fictional recounting of her groundbreaking news story when she committed herself to a mental institute, was the historical, feminist story I needed to read. Maya Rodale, a typical romance author, does the main character justice by depicting her scrappiness and empathy in a midst of a practically unlivable situation. I appreciate that there is a potential love triangle brewing for the future books (yes, this book is kicking off a series), but the focus of this story was the marginalized women of Gilded Age New York. A surprisingly light read for the topic -- bring it to the beach with you this summer!
Ruth Ware is the master of the contemporary locked room mystery and I would follow her anywhere. Murder amongst frenemies in an isolated cabin? Check. Disappearing woman overboard on a luxury yacht? Check. Mysterious happenings at a secluded Highland manor house? Check. So when she packed her bags to join a corporate retreat in the Alps, I threw warm clothes and my deductive reasoning in my suitcase to join her. Since we can't travel in real life, it's the next best thing. Just watch your back!
Ryann Stevenson's Human Resources is a cool exploration of technology, both as a force and an industry. The "protagonist" of these often story-like poems works in AI, and the juxtaposition between her humanity and the humanity she has been tasked with working on creates a fascinating (if uncomfortable) space for Stevenson to explore. This book often made me think of Franny Choi's Soft Science, which is a favorite poetry collection of mine.
Saeed Jones's memoir is my favorite fall book so far. Expanded from an essay (entitled How Men Fight For Their Lives) he originally published on The Rumpus in 2012, How We Fight For Our Lives exposes intersections of racism and homophobia in moments of intensity as well as moments of quiet. Jones lets the reader know him--his vulnerability is at the forefront as he details his coming of age, his relationship with his mother, and his understanding of the world and how to survive in it. I read it in one sitting.
Shy Mole has been invited to a party at Rabbit's house. As Mole makes their way to the party, they worry about not knowing anyone there, about being too shy to talk to anyone, and about the party being too rowdy. By the time they reach Rabbit's home, Mole sees that Skunk is also standing outside the party. Both decide that the party looks too much for them, and Rabbit thanks them for coming. This is such a sweet story of understanding of shyness, and giving space, instead of judgment, to shy friends.
Tom Barren is a screw-up. He knows this because he's lived two difference lives in 2016 and he's incompetent in both. In fact, if he hadn't tolen his father's time machine and traveled back to 1965, we would all be driving hover cars and wearing biodegradable clothing. Instead, he corrupted the timeline, killed billion of people and caused the utopian version of 2016 to never exist.
Will Rhodes has never had to work too hard for anything in his seemingly charmed life. He has boyish good looks, and incredible wife, the perfect Victorian fixer-upper and a cushy job traveling the world as a travel journalist. But then he had a one night stand with Elle, who may be a fellow journalist, or a CIA agent, or something much more dangerous. And now Will Rhodes ha the biggest assignment of his life: become a spy or die trying.