The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby Someone wants to buy the 500 acre farm and vineyard located at the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains which has belonged to Lucie Montgomery's family since colonial days. And they are apparently willing to commit murder to get it. When Lucie's father Leland dies under questionable circumstances, the vineyard passes to his three children. But Lucie, who has been living in France for several years, quickly discovers that her brother and sister can't wait to nail up the "For Sale" sign while she is the lone holdout for reviving the ailing winery. All too soon it's clear she's the new target of whoever wants her family's land. With a growing list of suspects - including the new cut-rate vintner her father hired shortly before he died - Lucie must act quickly to uncover the identity of a killer who seems disturbingly close to home. Set in the historic heart of Virginia's horse and hunt country, "The Merlot Murders" is filled with fascinating detail about the science and alchemy of winemaking. Crosby has woven in some interesting historical tidbits about Thomas Jefferson's (unsuccessful) efforts to establish a wine industry in early Virginia as well as giving us the first in a series of intriguing mysteries.

Tell No One by Harlan Coban For Dr. David Beck, the loss was shattering. And every day for the past eight years, he has relived the horror of what happened. The gleaming lake. The pale moonlight. The piercing screams. The night his wife was taken. The last night he saw her alive. Everyone tells him it's time to move on, to forget the past once and for all. But for David Beck, there can be no closure. ...

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley Flavia de Luce is the youngest of three sisters and so, naturally, gets picked on.  But instead of short-sheeting her sister’s bed or putting frogs in it, she gathers poison ivy, distills the oil from the leaves and mixes it into her sister’s lipstick!  Not your ordinary 11 year old, Flavia is doing chemistry at a high school, if not university level and solving crimes, to boot.  Finding a dying man in the cucumber patch doesn’t faze her and she knows just where to look for a priceless stolen object.  Spunky, inquisitive, brave and downright daring at times, Flavia is someone you can’t help wanting to know better.  I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen The book was translated from the original Danish and takes place in Copenhagen. The main character, Carl Morck is a not well liked police detective and is forced to run his own department....which only consists of him and his Syrian born assistant, Assad. I really enjoyed this mystery because of the relationship between the main character and his assistant, plus the way the story developed piece by piece and clue by clue made it a most enjoyable read

Deception Point by Dan Brown When a new NASA satellite detects evidence of an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory...a victory that has profound implications for U.S. space policy and the impending presidential election. With the Oval Office in the balance, the President calls on skills of White House Intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Once I started reading this, I couldn't put it down.

L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy In the tradition of Raymond Chandler's crime fiction comes this story of three tortured souls in the 1950s LAPD: a clean-cut cop who lives shivering in the shadow of his dad, his colleague who busts movie stars for payoffs from a sleazy magazine; and a detective haunted by the sight of his mother's murder. Intensity mounts as the novel's various plots intertwine more and more tightly, yet the narrative never veers too far from its core theme of cops competing with crooks to see who can be more corrupt and violent.

McNally's Alibi by Vincent Lardo When Lawrence Sanders died a few years ago and Vincent Lardo took over the McNally franchise, this reviewer howled about another series of lite books. Several novels later, this reviewer still howls that Mr. Sanders would have been proud to claim the Lardo books as his own. The latest MCNALLY'S ALIBI is a strong novel containing an intriguing investigative story line and three women making Archy's life miserable in different ways. Fans of Mr. Sanders, McNally, or a strong private investigative novel will want to read Mr. Lardo's latest take and like this reviewer demand early release of another Arch book ASAP. If you are a fan of “Dime Store” novels then this is the series for you! Fun, intriguing story lines and a character that you can’t wait to visit!!

The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart by Lawrence Block One of the Bernie Rhodenbarr comical mysteries . Bernie Rhodenbarr is a New York City-based thief who excels in lockpicking and breaking and entering, and who is addicted to the thrill it provides. He served time in prison in his youth, and since then has resolved to avoid getting caught again. Bernie's burglary operations are usually well-planned and tidily executed, from the initial surveillance of the target site to the escape route afterwards. However, during the course of some of these burglaries Bernie encounters a dead body, usually just before the police arrive to investigate a called-in murder.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris I’m not typically a mystery genre reader BUT I love the Sookie Stackhouse series. It’s fun chick-lit at its best! Sookie is a cocktail waitress in a small Louisiana town where vampires are openly part of society. With Sookie’s unnatural ability to read people’s thoughts she finds a fresh respite to the silence of vampire minds, but quickly falls to trouble when she becomes smitten for one of them! Charlaine Harris will embark you on a funny, romantic and hilarious adventure keeping you up into the wee hours of the night to finish the entire series.

Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz Jimmy Tock comes into the world on the very night his grandfather leaves it. Josef Tock suddenly sits up in bed and speaks coherently for the first and last time since his stroke. With his bestselling blend of nail-biting intensity, daring artistry, and storytelling magic, Dean Koontz returns with an emotional roller coaster of a tale filled with enough twists, turns, shocks, and surprises for ten ordinary novels. Here is the story of five days in the life of an ordinary man born to an extraordinary legacy--a story that will challenge the way you look at good and evil, life and death, and everything in between.

The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson Lou Ford is the deputy sheriff of a small town in Texas.  The worst thing most people can say against him is that he's a little slow and a little boring.  But, then, most people don't know about the sickness --the sickness that almost got Lou put away when he was younger.  The sickness that is about to surface again. An underground classic since its publication in 1952, The Killer Inside Me is the book that made Jim Thompson's name synonymous with the roman noir.

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith This is the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to “help people with problems in their lives.” Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.

Still Life by Louise Penny Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to the scene of a death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead, the victim of a tragic hunting accident. But Gamache suspects something more sinister. With this award-winning first novel, Louise Penny introduces an engaging hero in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces—and this series—with power, ingenuity, and charm.

L.A. Outlaws by T. Jefferson Parker The first book in T. Jefferson Parker’s Charlie Hood series, where we’re introduced to Hood as a young, rookie deputy.  Parker explains L.A. Outlaws best, “Los Angeles is gripped by the exploding celebrity of Allison Murietta, her real identity unknown, a modern-day Jesse James with the compulsion to steal beautiful things, the vanity to invite the media along, and the conscience to donate much of her bounty to charity.” You’ll quickly see why this book has been praised for its gripping plot and rich characters that draw you in.

Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker
Los Angeles Sheriff's deputy Charlie Hood is on a temporary assignment with a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms task force investigating the "Iron River," the illegal flow of firearms from the United States into Mexico. During a staged weapons buy, things go terribly wrong and an innocent bystander is killed. They bystander turns out to be the teenage son of a drug cartel leader who takes swift and savage vengeance against the task force members. The action and suspense are nonstop in this thriller designed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden is listed in the Chicago phone directory under "Wizards." He doesn't grant wishes and he doesn't make love potions. When Harry is asked to locate a missing husband, he finds himself in deeper water than even he could have imagined. James Marsters brings Harry to life in Butcher's fantasy murder mystery and creates quite a character that leaves you longing for more.

Doc: a novel by Mary Doria Russell

Fact and fiction combine in this wonderful story of Doc Holliday, the legendary gunman and gambler. John "Doc" Holliday leaves Atlanta in 1873 hoping the dry air and sunshine of the West will help keep his tuberculosis at bay. Highly educated and trained as a dentist, he plans to open a practice in the far reaches of the frontier. All the major players of the famous story are here including the Earp brothers, Bat Masterson and Kate Elder. The wild West comes alive in unexpected ways - you can almost hear the spurs jingling on the boardwalks of Dodge City. As an added bonus you'll be inspired to listen to Beethoven's Emperor's Concerto when you finish this marvelous read.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

This is a story of baseball and mathematics that will surprise you. Narrated by the Housekeeper, it is an elegant tale about a brilliant mathematics professor who lost his short-term memory in a car accident. The Professor comes to adore "Root" the Housekeeper's 10 year old son and shares with him mathematical theorems and baseball stories. The lives of all three are enriched by their relationships. This is a simple satisfying story, beautifully written and thought provoking.

The White Garden by Stephanie Barron

A suspenseful mystery that suggests what could have happened to Virginia Woolf in the weeks between her disappearance and the day she was found in the river Ouse. Six decades after Woolf's death, a landscape designer comes to Sissinghurst to study the White Garden and to recover from the shock of her grandfather's suicide. A journal she finds in a gardener's shed leads her to discoveries about both.

Lamentation by Ken Scholes

This award winning author takes readers on an epic journey that starts with the destruction of the world's greatest city, including its prized library and keepers of knowledge. Intrigue, plots, political machinations, magic and love will keep you enthralled not only with the world Scholes has built but also with the depth and breadth of his characters.

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson

This charming novel, set in Nairobi, will remind you of the books of Alexander McCall Smith. Mr. Malik is a widower, an avid birder, and in love with Rose Mbikwa. Just as he has worked up the nerve to ask her to the annual Hunt Club Ball, she catches the eye of Mr. Malik's longtime nemesis, Harry Khan. Since neither wants to put the lady in the position of having to turn one of them down, their friends devise a contest to see who will win the privilege of inviting her to the dance - whoever can identify the most species of birds in one week will have that honor. A highly recommended quick read

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

The Major leads a quiet life in a quintessential English village. Along comes an unexpected friendship with Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper. Drawn together by their shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship developing into something more. But will their fellow villagers accept a relationship between the local gentleman and the permanent foreigner? This is a love story about race, religion and real estate, funny and charming.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

Frank Wheeler seems to have everything perfectly in order in suburbia: two kids, a good job, a fine house and a wonderful marriage to a beautiful wife. Underneath this façade, Frank and his wife April are haunted by a nagging sense that their youth is being squandered. Their search for excitement, action and purpose propels them to take extraordinary steps in their struggle for meaning and to separate their lives from the lackluster banality that surrounds them.

So I am Glad by A.L. Kennedy

Scottish author A.L. Kennedy brings Cyrano de Bergerac back to life and drops him gently down into a house in Glasgow inhabited by Jennifer Wilson, a radio announcer who hides her feelings behind a wall of isolation. This improbable couple moves very cautiously toward connection, with unexpected results on both sides. Cyrano tries to find how he fits in the modern world, and Jennifer tries to figure out how to let her feelings show without going out of control. A surprisingly touching and moving story.

The 19th Wife: a novel by David Ebershoff

This is the tale of Ann Eliza Young who was "the 19th wife" of Brigham Young. It is a compelling story about polygamy, the Church of Latter-day Saints, and Ann Eliza who would become a catalyst to end polygamy. There is also a concurrent fiction thread that interweaves the story of Jordan, who is born into a modern-day fundamentalist LDS group in Arizona. He too is working to break free of the overpowering religious sect. I enjoyed the way the author blends non-fiction and fiction in this book

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

The first book of a series, "The Spellman Files" is a hilarious take on a slightly unusual and dysfunctional family. For even more hilarity, try listening to it as an audiobook. Narrator Christina Moore gives life to the Spellman clan and leaves you asking for more.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Sometimes a book comes along that strikes a chord about a disconcerting truth. This is that book for Alzheimer's disease. Alice is an admired college professor struggling with a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's. For those readers who are dealing with Alzheimer's in their own families, it could be helpful in building awareness and compassion. Although heartbreaking at times, it is a compelling story told from the viewpoint of Alice.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

This novel takes place during the Seige of Leningrad in World War II. Fate has thrown two very different young men together to accomplish an almost impossible task in order to avoid a death sentence. They have many adventures along the way. The book is well written with some ironic plot twists. Highly recommended.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This modern historical fiction engaged me like no other book in a long time! It also made accessible the confusing political and social struggles in Afghanistan over the past 30 years. The two main female characters are vividly depicted and I found myself sharing in both their hopes and heartaches. I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook. I loved hearing the accents and pronunciations in the audiobook.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

Yeine, a young woman with broken ties to the ruling family, but raised in a barbarian land, has been called to the majestic city of Sky following the tragic death of her mother. She is pitted against her cousins in a cruel and sadistic game of politics in which she is forced to deal with enemies and allies, and above all reconcile the power struggles with the gods her family has kept as slaves for centuries.

Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fforde

If you enjoyed Fforde's Thursday Next novels you'll find "Shades of Grey" hilarious. This comic dystopia, where people are ranked by their color perception and manufacturing spoons is outlawed, pokes fun at science fiction novels and takes the reader on a wild ride through a weird new world.

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Enter a world where we've run out of fossil fuel and genetically altered agriculture has triggered plagues and famines. Bangkok is the epicenter for a complex plot involving Thailand's attempt to protect their seed bank from global agribusiness.

How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely

A hilarious send up of the phenomenon of the bestselling novel today. Slacker Pete Tarslaw sets out to become a bestselling author in order to impress his ex-girlfriend. Publishers, authors, readers - no one is spared in this smart satire. A really fun read.

Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

If you like crisp English wit, this is your cup of tea. Mitford's novel, based on her own childhood among the endearingly eccentric in the English countryside, is a classic.

Day After Night by Anita Diamant

The author tells the tale of Jewish refugees interned in a 1945 post-holocaust camp in Palestine. The story focuses on four young women who bond during their occupancy at Atlit, the British-run provisional camp. Although only one of the women was in a concentration camp, they all are survivors of harrowing experiences.

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Spanning two countries and two vastly different cultures during the 1930s and 40s, "The Lacuna" is, at heart, one man's search for self in an ever changing world. Kingsolver's intricate plot with its close attention to detail and breathtaking prose will captivate the reader to the very end.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Rarely does a book leave me breathless. This book, narrated by death, follows Leisel as she steals books in Nazi Germany. She and her best friend Rudy discover the power of words, language and friendship. A rare find!

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

This fantasy fiction delves into the mysteries and intrigues of kingly ambitions in a medieval setting with hints of magic along the outer realms of the kingdoms. The author writes superbly from many different characters' perspectives adding to the adventure, the politics and romance. If you like epics you will love Martin's first book in this Song of Ice and Fire series.

Malled: my unintentional Career in Retail by Caitliln Kelly

When unexpectedly laid off, Caitlin Kelly gets a job at a North Face retail store and begins her startling journey in retail. Malled examines the hidden lives of retail associates and gives us a private look at what really goes on behind the counter. Using her personal experience and current statistics, Kelly paints a detailed portrait of retail life that is less than perfect. Malled is an insightful look at customer service and the lengths to which we are willing to go to offer our service

My Year with Eleanor: a memoir by Noelle Hancock

After being laid off from her job, Noelle Hancock takes Eleanor Roosevelt's advice to "do one thing everyday that scares you" and transforms her life. This book is a wonderful reminder that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. Hancock's experiences inspired me to challenge myself and even though I may not take a trapeze class or swim with sharks like Hancock, I discovered that even the smallest challenges can be very rewarding.

Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

Mary Roach explores the not-so-glamorous lives of astronauts, their training, and the quirky experiments performed in the name of space science. The New York Times Book Review describes it best, "With an unflinching eye for repellent details, she launches readers into the thick of spaceflight's grossest engineering challenges: disposing of human waste, controlling body odor without washing, and containing nausea - or, if containment fails, surviving a spacewalk with a helmet full of perilously acidic upchuck." It is hilarious and informative.

Merchants of Doubt  by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway

The authors tell an important story about the misuse of science to mislead the public for political and commercial purposes. Oreskes and Conway do an excellent job of bringing clarity to a complex topic, providing historical perspective and political insight.

The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick

We all know it ended badly. This is the story of how it happened. The author reveals the lives of Custer and Sitting Bull, the in-fighting and backstabbing among the senior officers, the stories of  the inexperienced troops, some of whom barely knew how to ride a horse, and the geography which played such a big part in the battle. This is also the story of the last stand for the Sioux and Cheyenne nations. The maps throughout allow you to follow the story as it unfolds.

Musicophilia: tales of music and the brain  by Oliver Sacks

Fabulous journey of the role music plays in our inner lives and thought. The story is made even more interesting by the many case study stories.

Making Rounds with Oscar by David Dosa, M.D.

Dr. Dosa's account of a seemingly clairvoyant kitty is much more than a cat story. It is a sensitive look into the lives of several Alzheimer patients, their families, and the loving staff caring for them. Oscar is one of several cats providing comfort, laughs, and companionship to the residents of the Steere House nursing facility. What sets Oscar apart from the other felines is that he has a gift for knowing when a patient is close to the end of life. It is during this time that Oscar epitomizes the wonders and beauty of the human-animal bond, as he maintains a vigil next to the dying patient.

While reading "Making Round with Oscar," keep a box of tissues handy because in between laughing at cat antics, tears will be shed.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

When a poor African American woman died of cervical cancer in 1951, her family didn't know that researchers had taken samples of her tumors without permission. These cells have played a hugely important role in scientific research all over the world as they grow and thrive with very little encouragement. This is the story of Henrietta Lacks' family who didn't know for 25 years about their mother's role. Poor and uneducated, they benefitted in no way from one of the most important things ever to happen in medicine.

The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: a Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer

Planning a trip to Medieval England? This book has all the information you need. Should you wear weasel or rabbit fur? Do you stay at an inn and sleep with strangers or try a monastery with the lepers? And how do you avoid famine and plague? Mortimer takes you on a fascinating journey through the tumultuous and complex century.

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

This is the perfect gift for the budding tyrant or ruler, blending Machiavellian advice with abundant historical examples illustrating the 48 laws of power. This book provides an excellent overview of how rulers have attained, held, and used power and of others who lost their heads because they didn't understand the importance of rules such as "Crush Your Enemy Totally" and "Keep Your Hands Clean."

The Places in Between by Rory Stewart

In 2002, just after the fall of the Taliban, Rory Stewart set off to walk the entire length of Afghanistan - alone. With clear, thoughtful prose, he brings to life the landscapes, people, and villages he encounters on this epic journey. It reads like the best travel writing while shedding light on a particularly relevant region.

Stuffed and Starved by Raj Patel

The distribution of food across the world is so out of whack that there is an obesity epidemic and widespread starvation at the same time. This book explains how we got there and what we (as individuals and as a society) can do to remedy the situation.

This is Water: some thoughts, delivered on a significant occasion, about living a compassionate life by David Foster Wallace

A reprint of a commencement speech the author gave at Kenyon College in 2005, this slim volume is direct and wise and deceptively simple in its advice for living. Should be required reading for anyone interested in living a meaningful life, recent graduates or not.

The Gift of Fear: Survival Signs that Protect us from Violence by Gavin de Becker

Gives practical advice about how to trust "gut instinct" in order to avoid being physically victimized.

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan

If you looked at human desire from the plant world's point of view, what would you see? Michael Pollan shows us in this eye-opening examination of four species that evolved to satisfy our yearnings. Explore the history of the apple, the tulip, the marijuana plant and the potato and their corresponding human desires of sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control.