Below Zero by C.J. Box

Below Zero , “Edgar-finalist Box’s ninth novel to feature Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett, begins with a bombshell: could Pickett’s foster daughter, April, who apparently died six years earlier in a horrific conflagration when overzealous FBI agents confronted a group of dissident survivalists (see 2003’s Winterkill), still be alive? Pickett’s 17-year-old daughter, Sheridan, begins receiving disturbing text messages from someone claiming to be her dead sister, and Pickett’s entire family is forced to relive the tragedy. Even worse, whoever is sending these messages is traveling cross-country with suspected serial killers targeting people whose carbon footprint is too high.” Publisher’s Weekly

This is Where I Leave You

Jonathan Tropper's new novel, like his previous novel How to Talk to a Widower, is a wonderfully funny/sad story about family and relationships, with believably flawed and realistic characters. Judd Foxman's marriage has just fallen apart when he receives news that his father has passed away. His father's last request was that his family sit Shiva for him--a Jewish period of 7 days of mourning. Judd cannot fathom his dysfunctional family being forced to spend time together for 7 whole days. The family spends the week re-hashing old histories and resentments and forging new relationships and understandings of themselves and each other. This is Where I Leave You is both laugh-out-loud funny and bittersweet and I enjoyed all of the character interactions. Tropper writes with insight and emotion and illustrates the connections between family members that last a lifetime.

Dust and Shadow

Since August of 1888, when the body of Martha Tabram was found in the dismal streets of London's Whitechapel district stabbed to death thirty-nine times, the identity of history's most infamous serial killer has fired the imaginations of professional investigators, writers, and the public at large. Over the course of three months the killer who came to be known as Jack the Ripper would terrify the citizens of London, taunt the press and police with letters and grisly souvenirs from his crimes, and take the lives of six unfortunates (the polite Victorian term for prostitutes) in vicious nighttime attacks. To this day the crimes remain unsolved.

But in Lyndsay Faye's fantastic debut novel Dust and Shadow, Jack the Ripper finally meets his match in the form of the world's foremost detective, Sherlock Holmes. Consulted by a desperate police force, Holmes - along with his trusted biographer Dr. John Watson - is as shocked by the unprecedented brutality of the crimes as the rest of London. But with the aid of his steely resolve, uncommonly keen powers of observation, and cunning intelligence - as well as the help of an intrepid unfortunate named Mary Ann Monk, who serves as the detective's Whitechapel informant - Holmes tracks the brazen killer through the foggy, gas lit streets to a thrilling denouement. With appearances by familiar names like Mycroft Holmes and Inspector Lestrade, and plenty of twists and turns in the plot, the well-written and meticulously researched Dust and Shadow is sure to please fans of Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper scholars, and mystery lovers alike.

Confessions of a Hasty Librarian

Just like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, I also have been too quick to judge. Two years ago when Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler first came out, I read it eagerly and loved it until the end. The only problem with this book is that only half of the story is presented, leaving too many questions unanswered. Recently, I decided to forgive Rigler and try to struggle through the sequel, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. It was so delightful, I had to go back and read Confessions again, which was much more enjoyable on the second reading.

Both stories are about a young woman who is unhappy with the current conditions of her life. They each suffer a head injury and wake up in a different life in a different time. Courtney is an assistant in 21st century Los Angeles. Having just suffered a humiliating end to her engagement, she suffers a diving accident and wakes up in the body of Miss Mansfield in 1813. Jane is 30 and unmarried in in Regency era England. She has just seen something that may mean the end to her only prospect for marriage. She races off on her horse, hits her head and wakes up in Courtney's apartment and life.

As each of them adjust to new surroundings, we get to see how many things concerning love and life have not changed very much, as well as how the resposibility of living someone else's life causes them to make better decisions than they might have on their own behalf. An overall fun read.

Personalized Reading Lists from the Manhattan Public Library

We've been thrilled by the enthusiastic response we've gotten to our Personalized Reading List service. For months now we've been helping patrons find their next favorite book. If you're wondering what to read next, why not let us help by providing you with a list of fiction and/or non-fiction titles suited to your reading tastes and interests. Just pick up a reading survey at the library, or click here to print one you can mail or bring in at your convenience. Give us at least two weeks and we'll give you a list of books we think you'll enjoy.

Here are a few of the well-received titles we've recommended to Personalized Reading List users recently:

• What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck
• Norah's Ark by Judy Baer
• The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
• Plainsong by Kent Haruf
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
• A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
• Small Island by Andrea Levy
• Dedication by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Vanished by Joseph Finder

Nick Heller, ex-Special Forces member and current security expert and intelligence investigator, receives a call from his nephew Gabe that his brother Roger is missing and his sister-in-law is in a coma, the result of an attack on a Georgetown street. Vanished tells the story of Nick's search to find his brother. Although not close to his brother since their wealthy financier father was arrested and convicted of fraud, Nick digs deep into Roger's disappearance and uncovers corporate greed, money laundering, bribery and murder. The characters are believable and interesting and the plot twists and turns are too numerous to keep track of--lots of action and an unexpected ending. Vanished is an exciting suspense thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.

Her Fearful Symmetry

Historic Highgate Cemetery in London would be a fascinating place to visit this time of year with it's gothic tombs and occult past, including the Highgate Vampire. Audrey Niffenegger takes you there in her newest book, Her Fearful Symmetry. Twins Julia and Valentina inherit a flat in London on the edge of Highgate Cemetery from their Aunt Elspeth. Their mother and Elspeth were estranged twins so Julia and Valentina had never been to London or met their aunt. The beautiful old apartment is home to the ghost of Elspeth and other interesting characters, including Robert, Elspeth's former lover and Martin who suffers from agoraphobia/ocd. The unusual story of love after death, twin-sister estrangement, and life with mental disorders is complicated but wonderfully twisted. Enjoy a ghost tale this season.