‘The Prisoner’ by B. A. Paris is a clever mystery with several surprises

/ Pamela Kramer

B. A. Paris kept the identity of the title character of her last novel, “The Therapist,” a mystery for much of the story. In her latest mystery, “The Prisoner,” we know exactly who the prisoner is. In fact, we read in the first chapter how Amelie has been taken prisoner. While we know that there are many facts that we need to learn, such as why she thought it was her husband who was doing the abduction, we realize that Amelie will share that information either in the chapters labeled “Present,” which detail what is going on currently, or the chapters labeled “Past” which inform us how Amelie ended up in this devastating situation.

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‘Flight Risk’ by Cherie Priest is her second murder mystery featuring a psychic travel agent

/ Pamela Kramer

A quirky travel agent who also has psychic talents is the star of “Flight Risk,” the stand alone sequel to “Grave Reservations” by Cherie Priest. These fast-paced and clever mysteries feature Leda Foley, the aforementioned travel agent whose paranormal abilities are sometimes an asset and sometimes a frustration. In this novel she continues working with Seattle Police Department detective Grady Merritt, who is well into middle age and lives with his teenage daughter. He still mourns the loss of his wife to cancer, and while he was skeptical about the paranormal in the first book, after being presented with clear data showing that Leda knew things about the future, he actually got her a contract with the police department as a consultant.

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‘Keeper of Enchanted Rooms’ by Charlie N. Holmberg

/ Pamela Kramer

Bestselling fantasy author Charlie N. Holmberg brings us a new fantasy-infused novel about a magic-infused house in “Keeper of Enchanted Rooms.” To this enchanted house come a plethora of people who all, in their own way, are estranged from loved ones. In the prologue, we meet a young Silas Hogwood, and we feel for him as we witness the abuse he suffers at the hands of his father—or rather at the abusive magical spells his father casts at him. But it’s the last time we feel pity for him as we witness, in the snippets Holmberg provides, his descent into depravity and murderous evil as he murders those around him for their magical ability.

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‘The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights’ by Kitty Zeldis is about the bonds we form and finding family

/ Pamela Kramer

In “The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights” Kitty Zeldis sweeps us back to experience a time after the Great War, when women not born with a silver spoon in their mouths were limited in their options. This lovely historical fiction presents us with strong female main characters who all also have flaws that make them very relatable. While the action in this novel takes place over the course of a year, we are treated to flashbacks and the characters’ thoughts that give us insight into what their lives were and how they developed into the people we meet at the start of the story. Each character has her own tribulations, and each character must overcome a flaw which makes her life less than it could be.

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‘The Winners’ by Fredrik Backman is a heartfelt conclusion to the ‘Beartown’ trilogy

/ Pamela Kramer

The first thing you notice about “The Winners,” Fredrik Backman’s conclusion to the “Beartown” trilogy, is that it’s huge—over 650 pages. But that’s because Backman has a lot to tell us, and we are immediately immersed in the small towns of Beartown and Hed, it’s neighboring town, watching as hockey brings the townspeople together and almost destroys them. Backman excels at displaying the extremes of human emotions through his at-times visceral narrative.

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‘Never Meant to Meet You’ by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans is a charming story of friendship, loss and love

/ Pamela Kramer

In “Never Meant to Meet You,” authors Alli Frank and Asha Youmans tell the story of two women, both of whom are single and both of whom most definitely did not want to be alone. Marjette Lewis relates the tale in first person narrative, so all we learn about her and her neighbor, Noa Abrams, is from her point of view. Marjette is still heartbroken that her marriage broke up five years previously when her husband left her and their son.

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‘So Long, Chester Wheeler’ by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an exploration of what lies underneath our outward personas

/ Pamela Kramer

We all know that how we present to the outside world is not how we necessarily feel about ourselves inside; in “So Long, Chester Wheeler,” veteran author Catherine Ryan Hyde explores just that concept. Lewis Madigan is a young software developer who, instead of receiving the generous raise he had been told to expect, receives a pink slip. He is shocked and dismayed. The job market is tight, and he is the breadwinner in his relationship with Tim, his boyfriend.

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‘Christmas in Blue Dog Valley’ by Annie England Noblin is a charming story of small town values, friendship, and finding love where you least expect it

/ Pamela Kramer

Author Annie England Noblin brings us the Christmas spirit with her newest novel, “Christmas in Blue Dog Valley.” As in her other novels, she offers not only a sweet story of a woman trying to find her place in the world, but also the joy of having a companion animal by her side as she does so. In fact, right from the start we see that the main character, Goldie McKenzie, a veterinarian, has a soft heart.

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‘Wildwater Walking Club: Walk the Talk’ by Claire Cook is still another witty and wonderful novel

/ Pamela Kramer

Author Claire Cook’s fourth and latest entry in her Wildwater Walking Club novel series is “Walk the Talk,” and this one is every bit as imaginative, thought-provoking, and witty as each of the previous entries. The  Walking Clubs’ adventures, featuring protagonist Noreen and her club partners, Rosie and Tess, offer generous samples of Cook’s salient wit and thoughtful commentaries. It might be tempting for some to label Cook’s novels light romantic Women’s Lit – and they certainly are romantic, in more ways than one – but to do so seriously undervalues the many uniquely admirable qualities of her work. They’re also full of marvelous gems of home-spun practical wisdom, thoughtful comments – even studies – of human nature, the vagaries and problems of human relationships, romantic and otherwise, and exceedingly clever, often self-deprecating humor. And the Wildwater series offers significant travelogs, too. Quite a package, indeed.

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‘Before You Knew My Name’ by Jacqueline Bublitz is a reflective story of breaking free

/ Pamela Kramer

“Before You Knew My Name” is an unusual novel, not quite a murder mystery and certainly not a love story. Alice and Ruby, the two protagonists, are women who arrive in New York City on the same date. Alice arrives by bus from Wisconsin with a stolen camera and money she took from her former high school teacher, who offered her a place to stay when she lost her home, but took advantage of her. Ruby arrives from Australia fleeing a relationship with a man who is engaged to another woman and who has no plans to leave that woman for Ruby. Both women hope that in New York City, they will discover who they are capable of being and thus find a future.

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‘A World of Curiosities’ by Louise Penny is a brilliant and gripping mystery with many twists

/ Pamela Kramer / 1 Comment

Louise Penny’s latest entry in her Chief Inspector Gamache series is brilliant and addictive. While it begins slowly as Penny is creating the backstory, that narrative becomes all-important later in the novel when the action and the connections are so fast and furious that it’s almost impossible to put the book down. We feel compelled to keep reading to see what clues will be uncovered next, who will die or be in danger, and what connection to the past an item or person has that we are just learning about.

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Two must-read middle grade novels are ‘Attack of the Black Rectangles’ and ‘Island of Spies’

/ Pamela Kramer

Two books published in 2022 that on the surface seem quite different, but share an important theme, are “Attack of the Black Rectangles” by Amy Sarig King and “Island of Spies” by Sheila Turnage. Both are about children who are determined to deal with problems that they are told are best left to adults. One of the books is about censorship and speaking out for what is right; the other is a WWII historical fiction in which kids are told they have nothing to contribute even as spies come ashore and ships are sunk on the east coast of the US by German submarines. In both novels, we meet kids who are strong and not afraid to speak out against wrongdoing. We see adults who want to shield the children from unpleasantness only to find that the children are determined to understand the truth and deal with it. We see girls being underestimated and adults who think only they know best. The children know otherwise. Both books are inspiring, and both definitely deserve a place in every library and classroom bookshelf.

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