How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, recommended by Grace
Warning: If you are afraid of dolls or anything with dead eyes and a painted smile, this book isn’t for you – or maybe it is, you decide your scare tolerance! Grady Hendrix’s How to Sell a Haunted House follows Louise who has recently lost both her parents in a terrible accident. In the wake of the tragedy, she must fly from San Francisco to Charleston – and away from her daughter Poppy – to sell her childhood home with the assistance of her not-so-helpful brother, Mark. Once Louise and Mark reluctantly embark on the journey of selling the home together, they soon realize that they got more than they bargained for. From evil puppets to invisible dogs, it is evident that much more than just shadows lurk within the corners of this desolate home.
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, recommended by Tracie
Velvet Was the Night showcases Mexico City during the political upheaval of the 70’s. Maite is just living and getting by until the next installment of her novella series that lets her dream about and imagine what her life could be. Leonora, Maite’s next-door neighbor, asks Maite to watch her cat. Leonora, who seemed to be living the life Maite dreams of, does not return; people start asking questions and start showing up at Lenora’s apartment, searching for something. Maite needs to get paid for watching the cat and is intrigued by Leonora’s lifestyle and what these people want.
Collateral Damage by J.A. Jance, recommended by Trish
Old grudges are hard to bury, especially for an ex-cop and parolee like Frank Muñoz who is now seeking revenge on those who are responsible for sending him to prison. Ali Reynolds and Stu try to figure out who was the real target: her husband or his driver when they are forced off the interstate, both sustaining serious injuries, on the way to attend a conference in London. Stu uses his AI to help determine who is the target: the limo driver, or his employer, B Simpson.
We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America by Roxanna Asgarian, recommended by Megan S.
This carefully researched book is the story of two tragedies: the murder of six children by their adopted parents and the child welfare system that put the children on that path. The stories of the two sibling groups are told with compassion and unflinching honesty, reflecting the humanity of these children and the future that was taken from them. Although it’s about much more than the crash, that crime and its aftermath are also discussed, with as much detail as can be gleaned from social media posts, interviews, police reports, and court records. This is a heart-wrenching book, but a very necessary one to give full context to this crime and how it affected everyone connected to those who died.
Your Thoughts: A patron shared: “The entire book was education and really mind opening. There will always be people that cannot be helped. That does not mean we shouldn’t try and especially means we should do more to help people before they hit a point of such hopelessness and pain that for them there is no way out. I think all families struggle and support must come before punishment. You don’t know what you don’t know. Cliche but still there – help before punishment. Positive results not CYA.”
Baby Driver: Music From the Motion Picture, recommended by Tracie
This is a great soundtrack to groove to at work while ordering books. “Harlem Shuffle” from Bob and Earl to “Baby Driver” by Simon and Garfunkel bring back scenes from the movie and that Motown sound with “Nowhere to Run” by Martha and the Vandellas.
From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz, recommended by Dennis
This novel has 3 different storylines: a psychopathic murderer who pushes his loving wife from a platform to her death, a loving mother raising her prodigy child who loses his eyesight, and a girl named Angel, who is raised by her aunt after her mother dies giving birth to her. The stories eventually combine and each storyline is resolved together. How these fascinating characters come into each other’s lives is as interesting as the plot itself. The novel is ultimately a story of good and evil, overcoming hardship, and includes a touch of coexisting realities to make it a Koontz novel. I enjoyed it.
The Color of Roses by Danielle Dall’Armi Hahn, recommended by Megan C.
With April showers come May flowers, so what better for the month of May than pages of petals? The Color of Roses is perfect for rose admirers who don’t want to be overwhelmed by facts. Although the introduction includes helpful information about rose varieties, landscaping, and arranging, most of the book reads like a magazine with delightful pictures. Hahn helps demystify roses and promotes their approachability by listing each rose by color in a “curated spectrum of blooms.” Simply sit back and enjoy this collection of 300 roses. From white to yellow, pink to peach, purple, orange, red, caramel, and even green, this book will help you choose the perfect rose for your garden!