Books & Bites: January 2024

Two American women form an uneasy alliance in Saigon in 1963.

A masterful collection of stories that plumb the depths of everyday life to reveal the shifting tides and hidden undercurrents of ordinary relationships — Tessa Hadley is "one of the greatest stylists alive" (Ron Charles, Washington Post).

A middle-class mother and son become desperate migrants fleeing Mexico in this heart stopping thriller that is all too timely and real.

The author of “The Stranger in the Woods” tells the story of Stéphane Breitwieser, who stole art more than 200 times for the sake of admiring it.

“Like Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Adjei-Brenyah’s book presents a dystopian vision so…illuminating that it should permanently shift our understanding of who we are and what we’re capable of doing.” —The Washington Post

An exemplary historical novel that chronicles the birth of labor unions in America through the lives of two brothers who fight for working class justice while discovering love and seeking justice.

"A gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who found herself at the center of a murder trial"-- Provided by publisher.

"A hilarious and heartfelt novel about a seemingly-perfect family in an era of waning American optimism, from the acclaimed author of The Altruists."

A rootless but highly educated woman who hopes to find a spiritual home goes to The Hague where she works at the international court.

Tan Yunxian learns the pillars of Chinese medicine from her grandmother but is sent into an arranged marriage and pressured by her mother-in-law.

Two British couples, longtime friends, become unmoored when the husband of one of them dies. A sensitive, insightful portrait of marriage.

An emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily

A mesmerizing story about a mother and daughter seeking refuge in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War—and a brilliant portrait of family endurance against all odds

The dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town is revealed in the aftermath of a murder with ties to America's opioid epidemic in this unputdownable and thrilling debut

An extraordinary horror novel set at a segregated boys’ reform school in Jim Crow Florida

Robert Merivel, son of a glove maker and an aspiring physician, finds his fortunes transformed when he is given a position at the court of King Charles II. Thus begins Merivel’s journey to self-knowledge, which will take him down into the lowest depths of seventeenth-century society.

"When a Parisian crowd stormed the Bastille in July 1789, it triggered an event of global consequence: the overthrow of the monarchy and the birth of a new society.

With his trademark combination of page-turning thrills and unrivaled insight into the dark shadows that creep into even the happiest communities, Harlan Coben delivers a thriller that cements his status as the master of domestic suspense.

Raised by loving and traditionally minded grandparents, Japanese youths Hiroshi and Kenji are forced to put their dreams on hold in the wake of World War II and find their destinies intertwining with those of a famous sumo master's daughters.

“This SF thriller hits all the beats of a gritty noir mystery, wrapped in a near-future setting where immortality can be had for a price, and those able to pay it are willing to compromise everything, including their humanity. Harkaway combines a satisfying mystery with a thought-provoking science-fictional setting and just the right touch of heartbreak to make for a compelling read. Recommended for those who enjoy reading SF/mystery blends.” —Library Journal

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.

"[A] gripping novel... Using a series of short, breathless paragraphs to drive the story on, NDiaye balances external and internal revelations to create a powerful story of mothers and daughters, and of what happens when a parent’s unconditional love breaks down."—John Self, The Guardian, "The best recent translated fiction"