American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century By: Maureen Callahan

This look at the Israel Keyes case was oddly moving!!  Callahan's writing style and her use really brought out the feelings of all of the investigators on this deeply disturbing case. Particularly moving were the stories of the dive team in recovering one of Keyes' victims.  There are a lot (and I do mean a lot) of unanswered questions regarding the number so Keyes' victims, to the Prosecutor who insinuated himself into the interrogation process, to the correctional facility's lack of common sense in dealing with a prisoner or Keyes' notoriety  and allowing him to commit suicide to the corruption in the state of Alaska. This case was a mess from the word go, and after reading this well put together book, one has to wonder if it were handled more professionally with someone steering the investigation, how many families might have achieved some sort of closure.

Eureka Day By: Jonathan Spector

 n uproariously funny, sometimes angering, moving and deeply real piece of theatre. Spector manages to make his audience empathize with each and every character, at the same time he is skewering them.  An incredibly real and prescient topic is handled quite brilliantly in this piece.  I can't wit until one of my local theatre companies presents this! 

 

The Epic of Gilgamesh Translator: Benjamin R. Foster

After reading Elif Shafak's There are Rivers in the Sky, I reading wanted to read The Epic of Gilgamesh.  I really enjoyed Foster's translation.  It was easy to read and understand. The oldest known  epic (4000+ years old), it is easy to see how other stories/epics flowed forth from this one.  Was blown away that Noah's Ark and the Flood in the Bible is lifted (practically word for word) from Gilgamesh.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By: Mark Twain

It's been a bout 45 years since I've read this.  Having recently finished the superb James (by Percival Everett), I wanted to revisit this story.  Twain's satire barrels through this story. It's a very different book from when I first read it.  As a kid I read it as just an adventure story, I wasn't old enough and hadn't had any life experience to appreciate the skewering of Southern society and culture of the time period.  Age, experience, and (I hope) some wisdom made this a very different read as an adult.  I highly recommend re-reading classics as an adult, if you read them as a younger person.  It's quite extraordinary how the experience differs!

 

A Darker Reality By: Anne Perry

A story of espionage, murder and family secrets. Elena is visiting the US for her maternal grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.  Having never really gotten to know this side of her family, Elena learns more than she wanted to about her grandfather.  Forced to investigate his beliefs when he's arrested for murder at his own party, Elena has to summon all of her professional detachment to clear her grandfather.  Perry packs this book with her usual humanity and anger and empathy when dealing with difficult , all to real topics. 

House of Evil By: John Dean

I was a little taken aback at how badly structured and badly written this book was, considering it was written by a journalist.  Information dumped into paragraphs, that have no bearing on what was being discussed; information out of sequence plopped mid sentence; and explanations/definitions of situations or legal terms that don't need explanation, and no explanations/definitions for things that need them. A disturbing case from the 60's that could have been fascinating, was just a read to get through because of sloppy writing. 

 

My Friends By: Fredrik Backman

My God, Backman can tell a story!! A simple story of a painting and a group of friends in Backman's hands becomes a 25 year epic with moments of terror, heartache, friendship love and art. Peppered with wonder moments of utter surprise and many twists this wonderful story is not to be missed!

Summer on Sag Harbor By: Sunny Hostin

This one picks up right where the first book left off.  Olivia is the focus of this book and goodness does she have A LOT to deal with!!  Hostin's work is the perfect summer read.  Wonderful locales, characters that are easy to empathize with and love, and drama like you wouldn't believe-yet lots of self-affirmation and love and community.  Loving this series!

Serial Killers and Psychopaths By: Charlotte Creig & John Marlowe

Its hard to write a book about serial killers to give new information to a fan of the genre, but that's what's Greig & Marlowe have managed to do.  Smartly curated and interestingly tied to social changes, this look at notorious serial killers and mass murderers is as much a look at society and how it's changes can lead to the conditions that allow for these killers to grow and thrive, as it is a snap shot of the notorious. Using this convention in setting up the book allowed Greig & Marlowe to include killers from other countries that I'd never heard of! 

In Plain Sight By: Kathryn Casey

This true crime novel reads like fiction!  I remember the beginnings of this case but with he Marathon Bombing happening down the street from my office, it dropped off my radar.  Casey has amazing writing skills to get this to read like a made up police procedural instead of the truly horrifying real life case of assassination!

Remarkably Bright Creatures By: Shelby Van Pelt

10 out of 10!  I defy anyone to read Remarkably Bright Creatures and not fall in love with Marcellus and Tova and be moved by this utterly charming and lovely story! Narrated by both a Giant Pacific Octopus, a 70 year old women and a 30 year old man adrift in the world this story is always moving and exciting and told with as much love as the characters have for each other. Remarkably Bright Creatures is truly Remarkable!