Parabellum By: Greg Hickey To Be Published: October 2020

This book is not due out until later this year-but I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy! There are so many amazing things about this book, that I'm at a loss for words as to how to give it the praise it deserves.  It is a character study of people done with pinpoint accuracy.  It is a heart-breaking tale of the human condition and humans.  It is universal, it is past, present, and unfortunately future. This is an extremely powerful read, that will have the reader feeling on edge throughout.  With a hopeful ending, Hickey takes the reader full circle through the minds of his lead characters and ultimately through the psyche of America.  With the devastating device of not naming his characters until the end, he shows the reader that we are all the same. Another note of brilliance is the title-I didn't know what the definition of the title, until after I read the book; already stunned by the story, I looked up the definition and gut punched again, as to the simplicity of using that title, and how it perfectly ties everyone and everything in the story together.  Absolutely brilliant writing and storytelling. Reading Parabellum was an experience that I won't soon forget! 

Americanah By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Still as brilliant as it was when I read it 5 years ago, even more so, in light of current events.  I think this is a must read for everyone right now!

Circe By: Madeline Miller

A novel of the life of the Titan witch, Circe, told in the style that I can only describe as a soap opera.  Despite it's population of Gods (both Titan and Olympian), this is written as a delicious tale of petty jealousies, back stabbing, family feuds, finding oneself and redemption.  It's a lot like a soap opera in all those aspects.  Chock full of mythology, familiar characters and stories are beautifully interwoven to present the life of Circe.  This is for anyone who likes mythology, and really exceptional story telling!

Kristin Lavransdatter By Sigrid Undset Translated by Tiina Nunnally

WOW-what a saga!  I was worried that this might not hold my attention, but it is a stunningly told tale of the life of the title character in Norway during the 14th century.  This translation is absolutely gorgeous.  Originally published as three separate novels in the early 1900's, this new edition with new translation contains all three novels.  Don't be daunted by the 1100+ pages-you'll sail through it, and be enraptured by Kristin and the other amazing characters!

Night Screams Edited By: Ed Gorman & Martin H. Greenberg

A beautifully curated set of creepy tales to read late at night!!  Some are completely creepy, others let your imagination do a lot of the work, and still others have a great deal of heart.  There really is something for everyone in this collection.

Faith Killer By: Josh Webster

A twisted tale of a serial killer hunted by a recovering addict addiction counselor, an alcoholic police detective, a parole office and a Native American psychologist.  With an creative story line for the killer, which unfortunately, is all to believable, it climaxes in a pulse pounding showdown!

Untitled Manuscript By: A Friend

This will be the 4th book in one of my favorite cozy series.  This particular story combines the characters that I adore with the theatre which I also adore.  It will be a great addition to this series.

Death Spore By: Harry Adam Knight

It's always great fun to read schlocky horror novels-not so much when in the midst of a pandemic, and the schlocky horror novel you pick up is set during a pandemic!  Of course, the Corona Virus is very different than the mutant fungi infestation in Death Spore.  What made this book fun, was the creativity involved in creating this particular story concept and following it through.  Lots of fascinating information about fungi, the various types of fungi and how they function (I'll learn from any source-can you tell?!).  A quick, fun and creepy read!

In Search of Sacco and Vanzetti By: Susan Tejada

It's scary how nothing has changed in the past 100 years.  This fascinating look at the Sacco/Vanzetti case sets the crime/trial/protests/riots/execution in it's proper historical, cultural, and socioeconomic place.  It doesn't set out to give a definitive solution to this crime that has fascinated and charged the people of Massachusetts and the world for 100 years; but rather examines the time period, the immigration situation at the time (and again-nothing has changed), the various ideals of the time (patriotism, anarchism, socialism, communism, worker vs. capitalist, etc...) to see if Sacco and Vanzetti got (or were ever able to get) a fair trial.  Thoroughly researched and written with an easy, yet gripping style, this was a fascinating, and at the same time infuriating read!

Fatal Roots By: Sheila Connolly

Not wishing to speak ill of the dead, this is not Ms. Connolly's best work.  I don't know if it was her fault or the fault of her editors, but the first 18 chapters are extremely repetitive along two fact lines; 1.) Maura is relatively new to Ireland, grew up in Boston and doesn't know anything about (her) Irish history; 2.) Helen is sorry she abandoned Maura when she was young.  There are also a number of typos, names that are changed, things left unexplained, and time-line elements that are not consistent.  With all of that said-it is still a vividly detailed setting and rich with history, and good enough for me to stick with it until the end.