My LINKcat AccountThe spring list of books is popping up at the library nearly as quickly as those pesky (but some say delicious) dandelions appear in your lawn. A little rain, lots of sunshine, warming soil temperatures, a voilá, a yard full of beautiful yellow flowers. As George Washington Carver often said, “A weed is a flower growing in the wrong place.” Some of the books which recently arrived may qualify as weeds to your way of thinking. Some might be flowers. Rest assured though, as with dandelions and other beautiful flowers appearing as if by magic now that spring has finally decided to put in an appearance, next week there will be a new crop of books.
For those of you with inquiring minds about when the Summer Reading Program kicks off, it starts on June 10th with a Kickoff Event at 1 p.m. For those of you who want to know how much time you have to get into your peak reading shape (whatever that means) you have 5 weeks and 4 days, or 39 days, or 936 hours, and I will quit right here. There is still lots of time to up your reading fitness level (whatever that means). Below are some of the books which recently arrived at the library. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spot on the Map” by Alex Hutchinson. Studies humanity’s innate drive to seek the unknown, blending neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and stories of exploration to reveal how embracing uncertainty and challenge fosters fulfillment, productivity, and resilience.
New Fiction
“The Eights” by Joanna Miller. In 1920, four women from different backgrounds—Dora, Beatrice, Otto, and Marianne—forge an enduring bond as the first female students at Oxford, navigating personal loss, societal expectations, and the lingering trauma of World War I.
“Tough Luck” by Sandra Dallas. After escaping an orphanage, Haidie Richards and her brother Boots journey to Colorado Territory, encountering treacherous challenges, unlikely allies, and the truth about their father, while Haidie devises a daring plan to claim their future.
“The Expert of Subtle Revisions” by Kirsten Menger-Anderson. A young woman follows cryptic instructions after her father's disappearance, uncovering ties to a 1933 Vienna intellectual circle grappling with rising fascism, a mysterious time-travel device, and secrets that connect their histories across decades.
“The Pretender” by Jo Harkin. In 1480s England, peasant boy Lambert Simnel is thrust into royal intrigue as he is declared a hidden heir to the throne and must face court politics, rebellion, and an alliance with the cunning Joan that could shape the fate of the monarchy.
“Happy Land” by Dolen Valdez-Perkins. When Nikki visits her estranged grandmother in North Carolina, she uncovers a hidden legacy tied to a forgotten kingdom of freed people, unraveling her family’s secrets and her own identity while fighting to protect their endangered heritage.
“The Sirens” by Emilia Hart. Lucy searches for her missing sister Jess in a modern-day coastal Australian town shrouded in eerie legends, uncovering connections to Jess's adolescent past and twin sisters from 1800 whose haunting ties to the sea ripple across generations.
“Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin, No.8 (Death by Chocolate Mysteries)” by Sarah Graves. When a reality TV star plummets to his death during a Halloween party, two local bakers who witnessed the fall must help police Chief Snow investigate in the eighth novel of the series following “Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone”.
“The Museum Detective” by Maha Khan Phillips. While grieving her missing niece, Karachi archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani discovers a mysterious mummy during a drug bust, leading her into a perilous conspiracy as she fights to protect the artifact while pursuing justice and closure.
“This is Not a Game” by Kelly Mullen. On stormy Mackinac Island, widower Mimi and her heartbroken granddaughter Addie attend a socialite’s charity auction, only to uncover blackmail, murder, and a dangerous game that tests their wits as they race to outsmart a killer trapped with them.
“The Gatsby Gambit” by Claire Anderson Wheeler. Greta Gatsby, newly arrived at her brother Jay’s West Egg mansion, finds her idyllic summer shattered by scandal, betrayal, and murder, forcing her to navigate the secrets of a glittering yet dangerous world of wealth and deception.
“Shadow of the Solstice (Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito)” by Anne Hillerman.
“The Maid’s Secret (Molly the Maid Mysteries)” by Nita Prose. Head maid Molly Gray's discovery of a priceless artifact sparks a media frenzy, a daring heist, and revelations from her grandmother's hidden diary, intertwining a present-day mystery with a long-lost tale of forbidden love and family secrets.
“Bearer of Bad News” by Elisabeth Dini. A young woman accepts a job that takes her though the Italian Dolomites and into an international mystery far greater—and more personal—than she could have ever expected.