Being kicked out of the nest.

 Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney has written a funny and compassionate novel titled The Nest. The story of four middle aged siblings and their trust fund. The trust, which was intended by their father to be a modest help has ballooned into serious money, helped by the stock market. All the siblings desperately and secretly need the money, which unfortunately has been used by Leo, the oldest to pay off a waitress he injured while driving drunk. Although all the siblings are fallible, secretive and have all the unlikeable traits most humans do, the lovely thing about this novel is we like them anyway. How does this group of middle-aged New Yorkers work it all out? That is the charm of the novel. Read it and see! ML

Nordic Noir!

Helene Tursten has written a fine series featuring Detective Inspector Irene Huss, a compelling and flawed heroine. As in all character driven series we get to know Irene as a person, and so are interested in her life and the approach she brings to solving crimes. Also compelling is the sense of place, Sweden and Swedish culture. Police politics are observed and commented on, which adds to the complexity.
This latest installment, The Treacherous Net, explores the dark side of the Internet. Young girls, looking for a sense of adventure and acceptance are lured to unfortunate ends, and its up to Inspector Huss and her team to find the killer. ML

Waste Not!

In her new book, Waste Free Kitchen Handbook : a guide to eating well and saving money by wasting less food, author Dana Gunders has many realistic suggestions. She offers meal planning guides with shopping lists and food storage tips too!  Get the correct information about shelf life and expiration dates on various packaged goods. Find out if freezing left-overs is a good idea. There is even a small chapter on scrapping--for pets, the garden and the compost. Pick up this informative little book and start saving! DB,

Food and Murder!

Tannie Marie is a middle-aged widow who likes to cook. She writes a food column for the local paper until they decide to switch her to an advice column. Tannie Marie feels like good food is the answer to everything, so she gives people recipes along with advice. When a woman who has written to her is murdered, she becomes entwined in the investigation along with a handsome detective.  Sally Andrew's book Recipes For Love and Murder takes place in rural South Africa, so the story is full of local color and recipes. Tannie Marie is sweet and determined, a character to love! ML

Michigan Misfits

If you enjoy history and are intrigued with the Wild West, check out Michigan Rogues,  Desperados & Cut-throats: A Gallery of 19th Century Miscreants by Tom Powers. The lumbering era in Michigan bred some rough characters. Every area seemed to have its share of crooks and thieves. The stories are real tales of life on the Michigan frontier.

Some of the stand-outs include a pirate, a train robber and an ogre from the U.P. Truth is stranger than fiction!  DB

Must Try DIY

Looking for a project? Check out  150 Quick & Easy Furniture Projects by Pamela Porter. This colorful book is chock-full of ideas that you can do in about a weekend. Stencil a coffee table, create a cool work space or make a unique bench! You can recycle, re-purpose, upholster and update your furniture with easy and time saving tips. When it comes to DIY—Better Homes and Gardens is the best! DB