Dracula by Bram Stoker, 454 pages

First published in 1897, Dracula is gothic horror at its best.  The story is told through the letters and diary entries of several of the characters.

The novel begins when a young English lawyer, Jonathan Harker, visits Count Dracula at his castle in Transylvania in order to complete a real estate transaction.  While there he discovers the diabolical intent of the Count.

Back in England, it falls to Professor Van Helsing, along with a handful of other heroes, including Jonathon and his fiancée, Mina, to stop the vampire.

I listened to the book and enjoyed this very proper Victorian horror story.  I am not typically of fan of horror but the story is told in such flowery and proper English that I couldn't help but get a kick out of it.

The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve, 272 pages

 

This is a fiction book based on a real event, the largest fire in Maine's history.  Set in 1947, Grace is a young wife with a toddler and a baby.  She is struggling in her marriage to a WWII veteran when a fire destroys her home and devastates her hometown.

The story begins in earnest in the aftermath of the fire as Grace works to rebuild her life.  This was an engrossing story that shed light on what it would have been like to be an American woman in the late 1940's.

Redemption by David Baldacci, 432 pages

Redemption is book #5 in Baldacci's Amos Decker series.  Amos, who has a perfect memory due to a brain injury, is a consultant for the FBI.  In this book, he has returned to his hometown to visit family graves.  While in the cemetery he is confronted by the first murder suspect of his career.  The man asks Decker to look at the case again.  Decker begins digging into the old case and more people start to die.

This was a typical David Baldacci suspense thriller.  And there is not one thing wrong with that.

Shell Game by Sara Paretsky, 304 pages

Shell Game is #19 in Sara Paretsky's  V.I. Warshawski series.  Victoria, VI Warshwaski, is a no nonsense private investigator based in Chicago.

In this story she is back in Chicago and trying to find a missing niece, Reno, she didn't even know was in Chicago, along with trying to keep Felix, the great nephew of a dear friend out of jail.

Sara Paretsky comes through once again with a smart, fast paced, and gritty mystery.  I enjoyed every minute of it.

Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner, 449 pages

Live to Tell was the 4th book in the Detective D.D. Warren series and thankfully, I liked it better than the last one. This book had a really creepy feel to it, which I love. I've really started to like main character D.D. and like the little hints of humor in the writing which breaks up the heavy topics that Gardner seems to include in this series.

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps, 321 pages

I know Busy Philipps from her talk show that was previously airing on E!, although it's since been cancelled. I really fell in love with her honest, witty and too the point attitude. Busy was recently very outspoken in regards to some things that I felt strongly about, which made me admire her more. I picked up her book and honestly, it's the best book I've read so far this year. This Will Only Hurt a Little was heartbreaking, hilarious and honest. I feel that Busy is a celebrity that you can relate with even just on paper. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good memoir.

The Neigbor by Lisa Gardner, 434 pages

The Neighbor is the 3rd book in Lisa Gardner's Detective D.D. Warren series. So far, this has been my least favorite of the series. I found it to be a little too unrealistic and something about the plot just didn't do it for me. I'm hoping the rest of the series holds up like the first two did.

Three Little Lies by Laura Marshall, 352 pages

Three Little Lies alternates between 2005 and 2018. In 2005, Ellen and her neighbor become enchanted with the new girl on the street, Sasha, and her exotic family. Sasha's family throws parties, allowing the teens to mingle with adults. Everything comes to a screeching halt when a sexual assault takes place during one of the parties, requiring both Ellen and Sasha to serve as prime witnesses against the family Sasha had been living with. Now it's 2018, and both girls are living together in an apartment, when they hear the news that the man they put behind bars for the assault is now out on the streets .When Sasha goes missing, Ellen fears the worst, but realizes everything isn't how it seems now, or how it seemed back then.

I was really excited to read this because I loved Marshall's other novel, Friend Request. I liked this book okay but definitely didn't love it. I had a hard time keeping all the character's straight, but was appreciative of the ending that I didn't see coming. I still would recommend this to readers who enjoy a fast-paced thriller.

Hide by Lisa Gardner, 466 pages

Hide is the second book in the Detective D.D. Warren series by Lisa Gardner. I really enjoyed this book and was very happy that it was more focused on Detective Warren than the first book. I'm really liking this series so far and have already started the third. I recommend this series to anyone who loves a good crime/cop thriller, although they have covered some sad/hard to read topics in the ones I've read so far.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, 288 pages

My favorite nerdy-librarian genre is books about books and this book delivers.  It's a fast-paced, upbeat, witty, slightly wacky mystery and adventure.  I loved it!

We don't have this book at the library. . . yet.  I borrowed the audiobook via interlibrary loan but we will be adding a print copy soon.

In the meantime, check out Robin Sloan's second book "Sourdough."  We have that book in print and audio already and that's what lead me to Penumbra.