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Altered Estates
Chris Mathison
This epic, prankish, psilocybin-laced game of a novel is less a puzzle box than a puzzle shipping container, a massive world of its own double stuffed with clues, portents, twists, surprises, and moments where a reader barely has time to wonder, “Wait, that’s odd, isn’t it?” before another door locks, another character behaves bizarrely, a statue of Shakespeare comes to life, a news report about dognappers intrudes, or half the cast kills several pages playing a game where they dream up new names for pubs. So it goes in Mathison’s massive debut, a book that aspires to do to Myst-like interactive puzzle games what LITRpg titles do for World of Warcraft. Told in second person like an Infocom text adventure, Mathison’s story, centered on a recently fired protagonist being told he’s unexpectedly inherited the most eccentric of estates, offers a relentless series of riddles, enigmas, palindromes, Easter eggs, and literal escape rooms, as the narrator explores the great house, meets its staff, and must prove the legitimacy of his inheritance.

Of course, this is all complicated by scheming staffers and the possibility, laid out in a prologue, that the narrator is undergoing some hallucinogenic experiment. Despite that and the story’s frequent evocation of exploratory games, Mathison favors traditional one-thing-after-another storytelling and scenecraft, with the always-odd events, conversations, pageantry, and moments of puzzle-solving related in crisp, engaging language.

The fun of Altered Estates is in digging into the secrets of Arthur Hanover’s mad estate, a place that crams centuries of British history, including a pub and countless priceless paintings, all under one roof and brought to life through technology inspired by amusement parks. Still, the novel’s protracted length, frequent asides, and general lack of urgency mean that the satisfying final chapters, which pay off much that came before, will prove a challenge for many readers to reach—an inevitability the narrator winks at, recalling reading that Myst, like A Brief History of Time, “are works that only fifteen percent of purchasers actually finish.”

Takeaway: Epic puzzle-box novel bursting with riddles, mysteries, and surprise.

Comparable Titles: Blake Crouch, Marisha Pessl’s Night Film.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Elly Robin On the Road (The Ordeals of Elly Robin)
PD Quaver
Set in 1912, the third volume of Quaver’s The Ordeals of Elly Robin series continues the rousing historical adventures of independent yet reserved 13-year-old Elly, her long-time friend Jimmy, his new bride Sara, and Sara’s physically disabled eight-year-old brother Jonah. Fleeing Colorado Springs after the previous entry’s trouble with a cruel mine owner and his henchmen, Elly drives the impromptu family in her Model T Roadster through Kansas when they happen upon a broken down car belonging to a group of thespians. Elly proves to be not only an expert mechanic but also a piano prodigy, so the actors invite her to join their theater troupe. Elly is a genius pianist who learns quickly and anticipates the actors in their comedy, drama, and ventriloquism acts. They perform at various towns, but some country folk fear the demonic of the ragtime that Elly plays, and a murder causes the four friends to flee in the Roadster again.

Quaver crafts the characters with empathy and has an ear for the language and culture of an era rife with minstrelsy and more that’s definitely not filtered through contemporary sensibilities. The divisions of the American past become even more clear once a storm in eastern Arkansas separates the friends and washes Elly down a flooding river. She’s discovered near death by a Black family who nurses her back to health. Quaver depicts the tensions between the Black and white residents as palpable, edged with danger, especially after a boy pilfers Elly’s stash of cash and suddenly makes the small town very rich.

Meanwhile, Elly’s growing feelings for Buck, the Black teenager who rescued her, are touchingly developed, though neither can forget that interracial relations can be deadly. Quaver carefully blends nostalgia with clear-eyed realism, not shying away from the past’s darkness. The story, targeted to adults but with a YA feel, is still buoyant, alive with audacious,idiosyncratic characters who remain loyal in their friendship. Readers will enjoy the camaraderie, humor, and author’s era-appropriate illustrations.

Takeaway: A spirited teen's 1910s misadventures in love, danger, and ragtime.

Comparable Titles: Audrey Couloumbis’s Maude March Misadventures series, Joyana Peters’s The Girl in the Triangle.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Little Moe can't Fly
Pria Dee
Little Moe is a Canadian gosling and a late bloomer, behind his siblings when it comes to swimming and flying. Being teased by his brothers and sisters yet encouraged by his doting mother, Moe is determined to learn how to fly before winter comes. This cute, empathetic, and (eventually) high-flying motivational picture book from Dee (author of the Billy and Molly Butter Stories series among other childrens’ books) emphasizes never giving up and the truth that it is okay when learning how to do something that others can do takes a little more time and practice. Little Moe Can’t Fly carries the imprint “Michigan Nature Stories,” and as the gosling the others call “Slow Moe”—he was slow to hatch, waddle, and swim—strives to learn to fly, young readers will learn interesting facts about Canadian geese, such as their flying patterns, when they migrate south, where they live, what they eat, and their growth from fuzzy yellow hatchlings to mature geese.

Moe's story is full of support, encouragement, and survival instincts, but the book is also fun and inviting, filled with vibrantly illustrated images from Emily Hercock and warm easy-to-read-aloud prose that comes to life with lyrical alliteration, as when Moe "flaps, flutters, and flounders" to try to stay airborne. Though it’s set in sky and waterways it still centers around concerns that young readers face, such as bullying, feelings of inadequacy, and determination in the face of adversity, insecurity, and disappointment.

This engaging children's story has been crafted to inspire young readers to always strive for their best and to never lose sight of their goals. Little Moe Can't Fly also demonstrates the hard work that goes into achieving a difficult task or acquiring a skill, even when one flounders at first. Snapshots of real Canadian geese in the final pages illustrate the birds’ life cycle, with an eye toward Michigan.

Takeaway: Inspirational story of a gosling striving to soar after floundering.

Comparable Titles: Robert Kraus's Leo the Late Bloomer, Toni Collier's Broken Crayons Still Color.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Unpaved Tomorrow: Short Story Poetry
Billie Bioku
This poignant poetry collection is split into three distinct parts: the past, the present, and the future. Each part is further divided into different facets of the poet's existence. In the first section, "Alphabet Soup," Bioku (author of We Ponder) pays homage to her childhood in a tone that’s playful yet bittersweet in its evocation of “malfunctioned friendships” and “Small interactions analyzed to the depths of my findings.” The collection shifts gears in "Growing Pains" and "Artificial Adulting" where Bioku faces the beauty and terror of maturity. "The wilderness begged me to return. / But where did I go?" she muses, capturing the freedom of childhood and the wariness of adulthood.

As the subtitle suggests, the strength of this collection lies in how Bioku has unified individual poems into a cohesive story suggesting the poet’s life. While the voice is detached and observational, often making each line a declarative ending in a full stop (“Vanished arrows burn your rind and frame.”) the words themselves offer a raw, sometimes abstracted depiction of encounters with trauma, aggression, body image struggles, and the pains of being a victim of bullying. These verses grapple with the internal battle faced by countless women, torn between lost youth and the burdens of maturity. Spirituality is a recurrent theme—and source of relief—as Bioku constantly seeks deliverance when “Jagged addictions fought zealously for control.” Bioku writes, “I’m weary standing at Your door,” reaching out for faith to be an anchor.

While the absence of a consistent rhythm in her one-sentence lines can create a sense of disconnection over the course of stanza, the messages—searching, searing—flow. Bioku's phrasing can be ambiguous, yet at its core, this is a love letter, one that chronicles the journey of being lost and dissatisfied in life, finding love in oneself and others, and holding out hope for the future: "But for now, let’s walk through life hand in hand, taking it one stride at a time."

Takeaway: Soul-baring poetry collection of a voyage towards spiritual awakening

Comparable Titles: Dian Tinio's Catastrophes, Lang Leav's Love & Misadventure.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Miss Mary: The Legend of Miss Mary Mack
Kathbell Stumpf
In Stumpf’s debut YA ghost mystery, a high-school student discovers she has a special connection to the infamous Miss Mary Mack, the featured phantom of the children’s well-known clapping rhyme. Seventeen-year-old Anna Ipswich lives in Cannon Falls, PA, a town replete with Civil War history and artifacts. When she and several mischievous friends sneak into Mary Mack’s historical home after hours, Anna has a run in with the forlorn woman’s ghost. Driven by curiosity, she researches Mary’s story and discovers that her soldier fiancé went missing during a Civil War battle, sparking Anna’s vow to uncover the truth of his death so Mary can finally be at peace.

This is a quick, smooth read, abounding in text message vernacular, playlist-worthy song titles, and several of-the-moment Starbucks references. Anna’s budding romance with the high-school football star and reliance on her boisterous pals add a jovial, team-sleuth flavor, while the ubiquitous jock boyfriend and clique of superficial mean girls match the genre’s standards. The core group encounters plenty of high-stakes action as they set about deciphering the cryptic clues concealed in Mary’s house, and Stumpf adds just enough romance throughout to keep readers engaged. Those looking for immediate closure may be disappointed that the story ends before Anna’s questions are fully answered, but Stumpf includes a preview of the next installment for a snapshot of what’s to come.

Most catching is Stumpf’s skill in writing directly to her YA audience; Anna’s idyllic relationship with her parents sets a positive tone for teen readers, and the mystery manages dramatic flair without too much angst. Teens will also identify with Stumpf’s detailed descriptions of trendy clothing and menu choices at local hotspots, while Anna’s lovable coterie of friends, the story’s high-school ambiance, and its Civil War-infused setting will entertain both history lovers and ghost-hunting enthusiasts alike.

Takeaway: A light, ghostly suspense with wholesome teen investigators.

Comparable Titles: R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, Betty Ren Wright’s The Dollhouse Murders.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B

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How Crypto Changed My Life With Only $20: Achieving Financial Freedom With Cryptocurrency
Annmarie Allman
“It wasn't luck that made me successful, but knowledge” writes Allman in this instructional debut on crypto currency investing. With straightforward advice and understandable language, she offers pro-tips that transform cryptocurrency from a risky gamble into an investment strategy, all based on her own crypto journey that started with a portfolio account of just $20.00. Allman shares the immense growth she experienced in that account and breaks down the crypto insights that she learned along the way, ranging from how to recognize user-friendly trading platforms to understanding the professional lingo.

Though presented informally, Allman’s guidance contains a wealth of tried-and-tested tips on an industry well-known for its complexity and uncertainty. She starts with the basics, including the various types of cryptocurrency, fees that accompany trading, the nuts-and-bolts differences between traditional currency and digital currency, and more. Readers new to crypto investing will welcome Allman’s summaries of complicated topics—like just what a crypto wallet is, or how to navigate crypto staking—as well as her willingness to share her own preferences for success in the industry (she recommends investing in non-fungible tokens and putting in the necessary time to study market trends before jumping in headfirst).

Though Allman acknowledges this is a challenging market to break into, and argues against the age-old “get rich quick” adage, financial freedom is the end goal here; but, as with all things related to money and investing, she consistently reminds readers that nothing is without risk. There is hope, however, through strategic planning and informed decision making, of long term success, as Allman encourages readers: “If you believe in the crypto industry and start focusing on low-level traits, you can definitely hope to multiply your investment in the coming years.” Readers just dipping their toes into the cryptocurrency waters will find this an informative stepping stone to digital money investments.

Takeaway: Beginner’s guide to cryptocurrency investing.

Comparable Titles: Ben McKenzie's Easy Money, Ben Armstrong's Catching Up to Crypto.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: A-

Shadow the Scaredy Cat
Michelle Urra
Urra’s playful, encouraging picture book for young children follows a black cat named Shadow as she learns Halloween isn’t as scary as she thinks. Shadow loves a lot of things about the spookiest night of the year, particularly meeting new kids who pet her and give her treats, but she’s not so fond of ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, witches, and other unknown creatures that lurk behind the trees. When a bat swoops down from the sky and narrowly misses Shadow’s head, she panics and darts into a nearby cottage—but instead of finding solace, she discovers the house belongs to a witch. She tries again to run but instead bumps into a table and spills vials of random potions all over her fur.

It only takes Shadow a moment to realize what she’s done, and then she begins to transform into everything that frightens her: a bat, a ghost, a jack-o-lantern, and finally a witch. With each experience, she learns that these traditional Halloween characters are not what she imagined—the ghost, for instance, is surprisingly calm and peaceful, and the pumpkin feels warm and cozy. She learns to love witches as well when the house’s owner invites Shadow to stay as long as she likes, and Shadow promptly curls up in front of the fire to take a well-deserved nap.

Nicely setting the stage, Emilija Marija Navelskyte’s illustrations favor a fall-themed palette, with most scenes awash in shades of orange, green, purple, and gray. Wide-eyed Shadow wears an orange turtleneck sweater as she tiptoes through haunted landscapes, walking on two legs and showing recognizably human expressions of happiness, fear, and annoyance. Ultimately Shadow’s experiences will encourage kids to take a closer look at the things that scare them while also normalizing (and having a little fun with) the very real fear many young people feel during spooky season.

Takeaway: Encouraging story of a black cat discovering Halloween isn’t as scary as she thinks.

Comparable Titles: Kyle Sullivan’s Hazel and the Spooky Season, Alina Tysoe’s Emi Isn’t Scared of Monsters.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Ties That Bind: Circumnavigating the Northern Hemisphere by Train
Brent Antonson
Antonson (Of Russia) recounts his train travels with his father and brother over the course of 12 years—and to more than a dozen countries—in this interesting and amusing memoir. With vivid descriptions and arresting minutiae, he details the landscapes and cultures the trio experienced, alongside the personal transformations that took place during the astounding 15,000 miles they logged on long-haul trains—a journey that he started at age 27 and transported him to a slew of countries, from North Korea to Russia to Canada.

From his globetrotting childhood, where he remembers serving as a cute, five-year-old “diversionary tactic” for his parents’ travels through KGB-controlled Russia, to his parents’ eventual divorce, Antonson chronicles the role travel has played in cementing his familial ties. “We travelled with love and some misgivings,” he writes of the epic journey with his father and brother, while covering the major destinations they encountered through their travels—including notables like Moscow, Chicago, and Pyongyang, North Korea. Antonson adopts the role of a terminal outsider, more local than tourist, while incorporating history, personal memory, and each city’s impact on the trio in descriptions that unfold into a richly textured narrative.

Standout recollections include a 1994 Samsonite store opening in Estonia, despite the citizens having little need for luggage and minimum means to travel, and his summary of the rules for exploring North Korea (no one was allowed to leave the hotel without permission, and the first stop of the trip was a mandatory show of respect at Kim Il Sung’s statue). Throughout, Antonson paints travel as a catalyst for family bonding, though he doesn’t shy away from sharing the gritty particulars that come with circumnavigating the Northern Hemisphere in close quarters with family members. This is a touching tribute to both the people riding the railways and the railways themselves, which “[weave] folklore with history, countrysides with capitals, people with dreams.”

Takeaway: Touching tribute to the transformative power of railway travel.

Comparable Titles: Paul Theroux, Pico Iyer.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

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The Patriarch and the Lord
Dennis Wammack
This surprising, impassioned novel—the sixth volume of Wammack’s sweeping The Beginning of Civilization: Mythologies Told True series—stands as the culmination of a singular project. The series imagines and dramatizes the lives, hearts, and minds of the leaders, thinkers, rulers, and believers populating the ancient histories attributed to Plato, Hesiod, Moses, and a host of Egyptian priests. Wammack does this in crisp, inviting language, touched with poetry but stripped of ornamentation: “Baalat spread a blanket for them to sit on and drink wine. She was happy, confident, outgoing, and awash with the joy of living. The men—not so much.”

That passage suggests the tenor of the series, which traces the development of myth into systems of belief often wielded as power, while emphasizing the humanity of all involved—pious readers starting with this entry will quickly be jolted by Wammack’s matter-of-fact treatment of sex, virginity, and pleasure, an approach more in line with the Song of Solomon than later primness. The women here have welcome agency: Fatimah boldly pledges to Ishmael to please him “with desert-heated love”; Baalat urges Horus to add “Respect Women” to his teachings; and a scene of Sarai and Hagar joining forces and applying oils to inspire Abram to sire a son is strange and funny.)

Dialogue often drives the overlapping, intergenerational stories as this entry surveys nothing less than the dawning of the Abrahamic religions during the age of pharaohs and Phoenicians, plus the building of desert cities, the Ark of the Covenant, and many other wonders, ideas, and beliefs. The talk is direct and plainspoken, sometimes earthy, and—like the rest of this sui generis novel—brisk and unpredictable. “Well, I don’t think it’s proper!” Abram tells his wife, Keturah, when discussing the possibility of women “teaching about the nature of God.” He adds: “It makes women think they are as good as men!” Wammack’s reimagining of foundational stories stand out by never indulging in hero worship.

Takeaway: Surprising, earthy reimagining of the dawn of the Abrahamic religions

Comparable Titles: Charlotte Gordon’s The Woman Who Named God, Joseph Blenkinsopp’s Abraham: The Story of a Life.

Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B

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Lacey's Star: A Lady Pilot-in-Command Novel
Kay DiBianca
DiBianca (author of The Watch Mysteries) begins her Lady Pilot-in-Command series with an engaging hero and a twisty, entertaining plot. Cassie Deakin, a private pilot based in rural Nevada, is suddenly thrust into a criminal investigation when her beloved Uncle Charlie is nearly murdered. Cassie soon discovers that Charlie has been hiding a secret box for his old friend Sinclair—and his attackers have taken it. The knife-edge tension sharpens from there, launching Cassie into a fast-moving and complicated investigation that leaves even her own life hanging in the balance.

In true thriller fashion, Cassie doesn’t know whom she can trust, especially once she finds herself embroiled in a fraught partnership with deputy Frank White, a former DEA agent with whom she shares a complex past. The two are joined by a motley team of professional and amateur detectives who traipse through the Southwest, and their own pasts, to uncover a coldhearted murderer who has ties to Sinclair's tragic past and a long-missing runaway.

DiBianca’s plot is tightly woven, but her cast of quirky and lovable characters steals the spotlight. Cassie comes across as both tough and sensitive, while her tentative relationship with Frank is by turns amusing, tender, and always believable, as is her familial connection to Uncle Charlie. Especially well done is Pastor John, Sinclair's religious advisor and a de facto fellow sleuth, with religious insights that lend depth to character and theme without becoming preachy. A secondary romance involving Uncle Charlie—and Cassie's irritation—adds a welcome note of humor. Beyond the stellar characters, DiBianca has a good feel for the novel’s rural setting, dropping readers into small town scenes where unknown faces are rare and social circles are tight knit, before building up to an electric finale that will leave fans eager for Cassie’s next adventure.

Takeaway: An independent woman turns sleuth with the help of her quirky friends in rural Nevada.

Comparable Titles: Sue Grafton, J.A. Jance.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Already Home: Confronting the Trauma of Adoption
Howard Frederick Ibach
“Abandoned, shabandoned.” Ibach’s inspiring debut recounts his adult search for his biological family while also contesting the conviction that adoptees naturally feel a sense of abandonment and even trauma simply by having been adopted. That conviction, especially as laid out in a book by a psychologist that Ibach read, has felt like a “punch in my gut,” to Ibach, who enjoyed a happy, healthy childhood that prepared him for life. Especially galling: his feeling that “if I argued with [that psychiatrist] about this interpretation, I was in denial of my suffering.” Ibach writes that he “was never haunted by not knowing” the identity of his birth parents, but in Already Home he recounts how, in 2017, in his fifties, he received a message from his sister informing him of the Wisconsin legislation that now allowed adoptees to learn about their deceased birth parents—and then he went to find them.

Ibach’s memoir is broadly divided into two themes: stories from his childhood and his journey to discover his birth family, plus his life and relationship with them. Ibach paints a moving picture of life as a “happy, pampered, privileged child” with his adoptive parents and three siblings in Milwaukee, roughhousing, exploring the ravines of Lake Michigan, and meeting Santa Claus during the holiday season. This deeply personal tale offers a window into 20th century America as Ibach reflects on the societal treatment of unwanted pregnancies before the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision, the perception of adoption and adoptees, and the experience of bisexuality in a culture that marginalized anyone not conforming to heteronormativity.

When Ibach meets his birth family in South Carolina he is welcomed into the clan with love, but this experience also reaffirms his love for his own family—the ones who “chose” him. His story touchingly challenges orthodoxies while celebrating love as it’s lived. Readers looking to cry happy tears will find solace in this emotionally charged memoir.

Takeaway: Touching story of adoption, love, and challenging orthodoxies.

Comparable Titles: Brad Livingood’s Surrounding Sparky, Nicole Chung’s All You Can Ever Know.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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LEX'S STORY: The Sam Barrett Ops
Kimberly A. Biggerstaff
This genre-crossing thriller with themes of family, romance, and duplicity, a spinoff of The Sam Barrett Ops that Biggerstaff wrote under the pseudonym Alex A. Jameson, centers on Air Force lieutenant Alexi “Lex” Rogov’s assignment to "get close" to C.I.A. agent Nikita Devin. The two are tasked with teaching allies how to be snipers and spotters in Poland, and within a year Rogov has gotten close enough to Devin to convince her to marry him, as he continues to discover her secrets. Rogov endures being taken as a prisoner of war, mental health troubles, and the complexities of his familial relationships, all while staying the course of his mission to unearth Devin's true allegiance.

Set against the backdrop of impending war between Russia and Ukraine, Lex's Story finds Rogov striving to fulfill his duty to his country and his struggles with the many relationships in his life, familial and romantic. Blending domestic drama, romance, and military action, Biggerstaff has written a fast paced and immersive story that jumps straight into the action, exploring how far Lex will go to fulfill his sworn duties as a military man—and what he's willing to sacrifice, including love and potentially his life. Rogov proves to be a strong and resolute soldier, one who will even continue his original assignment after he becomes convinced that Devin has turned him over to the enemies. Rogov must swallow his pain and trauma to succeed and possibly get revenge.

Biggerstaff creates a character that embodies the loyal soldier archetype, one that readers will sympathize with and root for. With crisp dialogue that drives the story and direct prose that wastes no time, Lex's Story will please readers who relish emotional stories of domestic espionage, loyalty, and cover-ups The twists shock, and the violence is more graphic than the romantic clinches, but Lex’s Story has lots of heart.

Takeaway: Emotional military thriller of domestic espionage and romance.

Comparable Titles: Sandie Jones’s The First Mistake, Jane Elizabeth Hughes’s The Spy’s Wife.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

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A Fondness for Truth
Kim Hays
On an icy night, Andi Eberhart is killed by a hit and run while biking home after curling practice. Andi's death soon is recognized for what her wife, Nishi, suspects: murder, deliberate and heartless. Hays’s detective duo Giuliana Linder and Renzo Donatelli of the Bern, Switzerland, police department (introduced in Pesticide) return in their third book, learning that Andi had been receiving horrifying letters for years and that Nisha's Tamil immigrant family oppose her lesbian relationship. Also on the suspect list: Andi's coworkers and clients, jealous curlers, and citizens who oppose same-sex marriage and found Andi's outspoken advocacy to be inflammatory. Further complicating matters is a mystery of life rather than death—the identity of the biological father of Andi and Nisha's daughter.

Swiss-American Hays paints a complex person in a complex world that has not been welcoming to Andi and the family of her choosing. Guiliana and Renzo remain compelling characters, too, fascinating and flawed people who love their work, love their families, but still feel a connection to each other that makes working together seamless and complicated all at once. Both experience the conflict of loving their partners and children while feeling drawn to the darkness of the work they do and the pull to another person who understands. The "will they or won't they" chemistry proves as potent as the central mystery itself, and although this entry stands on its own, procedural fans will likely be enticed enough to pick up the earlier books.

Outside of the "whodunnit," A Fondness for Truth feels fresh as it engages with societal conflicts that resonate: LGBTQ+ rights in love, acceptance, and legality; interracial and interfaith relationships; and relationship struggles when the spark of new is tamped down by everyday life and responsibilities. Hays offers insight into all of this and the feelings that this deeply human cast must manage. Hays’s empathetic, entertaining, smartly plotted mystery will keep readers guessing.

Takeaway: Stellar series procedural with compelling detectives and deep empathy.

Comparable Titles: Ann Cleeves, Deborah Crombie.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about A Fondness for Truth
Disaster for Sale: Man Corrupting Nature
F. David Rinehart
Rinehart debuts with an action-packed thriller bolstered by a touch of romance, following the efforts of geologist Thomas Jackson and disaster response expert Catherine Craft, along with an assembled military team, as they work together to stop a potential eruption in Yellowstone National Park that could lead to "the end of the United States if it goes off." When Thomas's mentor and long-time friend commits suicide during their investigation, he and the team learn that someone is behind the volatile shift in the Yellowstone caldera that’s contributing to its potential eruption, igniting their race against time to prevent the deaths of millions of people.

"Power is all that matters" in this zero hour thriller, as Thomas scrambles to puzzle out the science that will stop the eruption and Catherine sets out on her own mission—to find out who is funding the project that first set this natural disaster in motion. As Thomas and Catherine's love story develops, their sweet romance in the midst of chaos provides soft moments within the explosive, constantly moving plot, yet even as they grow closer, Catherine learns that Thomas is keeping secrets of his own. Rinehart masterfully weaves the suspense and romance together, as the couple must learn to rely on each other while they deal with government corruption, family drama, and the potential end of the world.

Beyond that budding relationship, the core of the novel delves into the destruction that comes with abuse of power and greed, filling the pages with scenes of betrayal and violence that create heart-pounding tension until the shocking conclusion. The ensemble of characters is immense, and with multiple subplots providing twists and turns throughout, it’s hard to tell who to trust. Fans of exhilarating thrillers with multiple storylines and intricate characterization will enjoy this wild ride that stays unpredictable until the very last page.

Takeaway: A roller coaster ride of romance, secrets, and government cover-ups.

Comparable Titles: Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny’s State of Terror, Stacey Abram's While Justice Sleeps.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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The NeverEnd Friend
Sapana Grossi
Grossi’s rousing, beautifully illustrated debut introduces a brave young hero who has "tamed fiery dragons, sailed stormy seas, and napped on the moon." Achille embarks on a dangerous adventure to find his lost bear, Benji, his "bestest friend.” With the direction of his guardian angel, Claire, Achille treks up a mountain called Mount NeverEnd, "where all lost friends go,” facing dangers and terrible weather before plunging into a dark cave, encountering a fearsome green ogre, and experiencing the most frightening thing of all: the lights going out, both in his flashlight and in the sky itself. Blending traditional fantasy with surprising bits of contemporary life, like that flashlight, that teddy bear, and glimpses of a bedroom and a snoring boy, The NeverEnd Friend smartly links dream-time and story time as it recounts a heart-warming adventure about believing in yourself and letting go.

Inspired by her young son, Grossi weaves an engaging—and gently suspenseful—story about friendship, perseverance, and independence. Drawing on classic characters from Greek mythology and tales of cunning and triumph, such as Archimedes and his defeat of the Roman ships, Grossi conjures a fresh story with a timeless feel, one likely to capture young readers’ attention even as it imparts lessons. Adventure lovers will root for and be enthralled by Achille as Igor Kovyar’s illustrations emphasize the loneliness of the quest, the spooky depths of a cavern, or the deep chill of snowy forest nights. Grossi wisely trusts the power of the archetypal story, and of Kovyar’s art, to grip readers without wordiness or over explanation.

The revelation of where Benji has gone to is satisfying, surprising, and cute as can be, a welcome burst of warmth after the wintry trek. Also heartening: Achille’s understanding, under cold but brilliant stars, that it was love and friendship that gave him the heart to persevere. With stunning page spreads that reward attention, and a strong-willed, fiercely loyal young hero, The NeverEnd Friend is a touching story with strong themes of friendship, courage, and self-confidence.

Takeaway: Warm wintry adventure of friendship and perseverance, lovingly illustrated.

Comparable Titles: Christopher Denise’s Knight Owl, Jim LaMarche’s The Raft.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The NeverEnd Friend
Bonds: Ignited Galaxy Series Book 1
Drew Goodman
In this assured epic space-fantasy debut, the start of Goodman’s Ignited Galaxy series, two brothers shaken by tragedy—Phaidros and Charon—seek to avenge their father and cement their status among the elite Order of The Ignited. Phaidros embarks on a perilous journey to follow in their father's footsteps as an Ignited, a fierce warrior who, after the “igniting” of their true potential, dedicate their gifts to the protection of the people of the Holy City of Dasos. Facing deadly training and bloody ape attacks in the jungle at the hands of his father's right hand, Zenovia, Phaidros has one month to lay to rest the “shaped” beast that bested his father and restore honor upon their family name. Charon, now marked as a Cindered, a wounded warrior, also takes on a bold venture that awakens a mysterious power that may help reverse their family's tragic downfall and save his determined, headstrong brother.

Told through prose that alternates between lyricism and crisp, clear action, Bonds explores the ties of family, the loyalty of brothers, and the courage of warriors in a vividly detailed universe that draws on sources familiar and surprising—expect guns, carnivorous foliage, bizarre rituals, death magic, and, in the presence of standout creations like the mighty Suneater, “the Unbroken Sage who Devours,” much creepy-cool regal pomp. The brothers’ quests are compelling, as they strive to be “the apex among the strong,” with Phaidros growing from runt to warrior, and Charon, who too often has felt “useless to his brother and the world,” tempted by the power of dark magic.

Featuring multi-dimensional heroes, inventive battles, painful losses, fantastical creatures, and scenes of rigorous training, Bonds will please readers whose bottom line is well-told, freshly imagined space-and-sorcery adventure in a traditional vein, focusing on themes of trust, bravery, loyalty, and the corrupting temptation of power, as two brothers with something to prove fight for their legacy.

Takeaway: Accomplished space fantasy of brothers fighting for their legacy.

Comparable Titles: Christopher Ruocchio’s Sun Eater series, Mark Lawrence’s Book of the Ancestor series.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Bonds
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