The Dark Past

Julia Jarmond, an American writer who is living in Paris, is connected to a very dark time in French history. While on assignment to research the 60th anniversary of the Velodrome d’Hiver roundups, the mass arrest of Jews in 1942 occupied Paris, she discovers a link to her husband’s family. The apartment they have inherited was once occupied by a Jewish family named Starzynski. The only survivor was 10 year-old Sarah. Julia is determined to uncover the connection between her in-laws and this family. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is captivating. As Julia works tirelessly to unearth secrets from the past she manages to find a brighter path to her future. DB

Breaking the Rules

Have you ever started reading a book, only to discover about halfway through that it's the second book in a trilogy (if you read Nora Roberts, I'm sure this sounds familiar)? It's a major pet peeve for a lot of library patrons, so what I'm about to say might sound a little strange. I recently read In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson, and absolutely loved it. The caveat? It's the 10th book in the author's long-running Inspector Banks series (out of a staggering 19). Having not read any of the previous nine titles, I half-expected to be a bit lost. Not so! In a Dry Season begins with the mystery writer's cliché of the discovery of a body -- only this particular body is found in the mud of a depleted reservoir, which in turn was constructed on top of a village decades ago. Robinson expertly weaves Inspector Banks' modern day murder investigation with flashbacks and memories of the people who lived in the village during World War II. Along the way, the reader picks up tidbits about Banks' troubled background (including a failed marriage and his demotion to the backwaters of Yorkshire), filling in the blanks presumably detailed in the earlier books in the series. So go ahead, be brave! Read a series out of order --after all, sometimes it feels good to be bad. HM

Way up in Michigan!

Ellen Airgood's novel South of Superior takes place in a very small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Although calling a novel "heartwarming" usually is damning with faint praise, sometimes one wants a plucky heroine immersed in a small town where everyone knows everyone else! The characters are individual,quirky without being cute,and the plot moves along with enough action to make it interesting. Our heroine, Madeline Stone moves from Chicago to this small town to find out more about the family she never knew. Old secrets are found out,and Madeline comes to understand herself and the family members she is seeking. A fun and yes,heartwarming read. M.L.

spooky mystery

Author Carol Goodman delivers yet another suspenseful mystery with The Ghost Orchid. Deep within the mountains is Boscoe, a famed and highly-exclusive artists colony. Here, writer Ellis Brooks is working on a novel about the 1893 disappearance of the notorious medium Cornith Blackwell and her supposed connection to the Boscoe Estate. As the artists of Boscoe delve deeper into their individual projects, strange and unexplainable things start to happen--things that mirror the events of that fateful summer over 100 years ago. Is this coincidence? Or is it the work of a restless and vengeful spirit? Soon Ellis and the other artists are plunged into a century-old mystery involving murder and kidnapping. None will be at peace at Boscoe until the mystery is solved. And none of them could predict the outcome.

The Ghost Orchid is a creepy and atmospheric story that's impossible to put down. Also, check out the author's other novels. AJL

Strength and Survival

When a dying father of three loses his wife unexpectedly, life becomes chaotic. The children are sent to live with relatives and he is left to die, alone. His mysterious recovery prompts him to reunite the family and begin again. A surprise inheritance takes them to South Carolina, to live in an old seaside home with an obsolete light house. The property needs a lot of repair work, but so do they… One Summer by David Baldacci examines a young family working to overcome loss and find love. An uplifting read!DB

Dressmaker of Khair Khana

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a true story about a young girl who struggled to help her family when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. Kamila Sidiqi started a sewing business to support her family but it soon turned into a way to help many women in her community. After the Taliban took control of Kabul women were not allowed to attend school, work outside of the home or leave the house without a male escort. The men were forced to flee from the military and the women were soon struggling to feed themselves. With Kamila’s help they were able to learn a skill and earn enough money to support themselves. This is an inspiring story reminiscent of Three Cups of Tea. SG

Love,doubt and faith.

It's the spring of 2002 and in Boston the reputation of the Catholic Church is in ruins. For one devout family whose revered member is a priest, the consequences are devastating. In Faith, we meet Sheila McGann, although long estranged from her difficult family has remained close to her brother Art, a popular priest. When he is accused of child molestation along with many other priests, she goes to support him. As the scandal bring long denied family secrets and feelings to light, all seek the truth. A deep exploration of family,loyalty,doubt and faith, this novel written by Jennifer Haigh is intelligent and well written M.L.