Great reads at the Maricopa Public Library

French lawyer and political philosopher Charles De Secondat once said, “I’ve never known any trouble that an hour’s reading didn’t assuage.”  His words seem so apropos, and with registration for the Summer Reading Program at the Maricopa Library underway, let’s get started.

Fiction once again dominates the list and some familiar names are back with new stories to entertain their fans. 

“The Cross Gardener” by Jason Wright tells the story of John Bevan. He had everything in life he longed for until a tragic accident robbed him of happiness. During his period of grief he meets a stranger, and there begins the healing process. Kate White, who is editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, is also a fiction writer and her new novel “Hush” tells the story of a woman’s one night stand which eventually leads to murder.

Love at a certain age lies at the heart of Helen Simonson’s “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.” A retired British Army major in a small English town forms a relationship with Mrs. Ali and consequences ensue with their families and the townsfolk. Bestselling author Jodi Picoult’s new novel deals with a young man suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, who is accused of murdering his tutor in “House Rules.”

Roxy Abruzzo is a sexy, independent woman who just happens to be related to a Pittsburgh Mafia boss; she takes center stage in Nancy Martin’s “Our Lady of Immaculate Deception.” Roxy asks for trouble when she keeps an ancient Greek statue, and the former owner is found murdered. A secret letter found by Sister Evangeline leads her into a fight between the society of angelologists and the beautiful descendants of the angels and humans in Danielle Trussoni’s “Angelology.”

Alexandra Cooper is back in “Hell Gate,” book number 12 in the bestselling series by author Linda Fairstein. Two women are found murdered, one in a shipwreck involving human trafficking, and the other is the lover of an up and coming young congressman. The victims have one thing in common; both have the same tattoo, and the city’s political landscape is at risk. The wait is over for fans of Clive Cussler’s Oregon Files series with the publication of “The Silent Sea.” This is book seven and was co-written with Jack DuBrul.

In Mullaby, North Carolina, Emily Benedict wants to know more about her mother. Julia Winterson makes cakes and longs to rekindle a long lost love. The lives of these two women are told in Sarah Addison Allen’s “The Girl Who Chased the Moon.” The bond between twin sisters, one bad and one good, is explored in Lisa Scottoline’s thriller “Think Twice.”

Love among vampires takes center stage in Christopher Moore’s sequel to the previous bestsellers “You Suck” and “Bloodsucking Fiends” in “Bite Me: A Love Story,” book three in the San Francisco Vampire Trilogy. Young and popular Haley McWaid disappears, and a reporter famous for bringing down sexual predators is on the case but is troubled by feelings of self-doubt in Harlan Coben’s “Caught.” Leonid McGill is looking for a young woman in New York City, but no reasons are given for the search in Walter Mosley’s “Known to Evil.” Alex Delaware investigates the latest murder of a young woman at Windsor Prep Academy in Jonathan Kellerman’s “Deception.” This new release is the 25th in the Alex Delaware series. A Nobel-winning biophysicist, Michael Beard has an opportunity to redeem himself both personally and professionally in “Solar” by Ian McEwan. 

Murder and mayhem abound at an academy for wayward youth in “Without Mercy,” the latest suspense novel by Lisa Jackson. The late writer Stieg Larsson’s second book in the Millenium series once again features Lisbeth Salander, and this time she’s on the run from authorities after a triple murder is committed in “The Girl Who Played with Fire.”  Leila Meacham tells the story of forbidden love and betrayal among three influential families that spans three generations living in a small East Texas town in “Roses.” Book four in Erin Hunter’s Seeker series tells of the four friends who settle in what they believe is the best place on earth, but disaster strikes in Erin Hunter’s “The Lost Wilderness.”

Great fiction abounds for our adult patrons, but for children and young adults there are a couple of titles to look forward also. 

James Patterson’s young adult Maximum Ride series has a new title, “Fang,” and for children there is “Fancy Nancy Poet Extraordinaire” by Jane O’Connor. In this new Fancy Nancy story, our little heroine must write a poem, but she’s having difficulty thinking of a good idea.

There are several non-fiction titles on the list that may interest our readers as well.  Here’s a quick overview of what’s new:

Fans of actor and Oscar winning director Clint Eastwood will enjoy a visual retrospective of this Hollywood star in Richard Schickel’s “Clint.” Kelly Corrigan, author of the bestselling “The Middle Place,” continues her thoughts in her new memoir “Lift,” which was written as a letter to her children. Here she writes about the joys, the sorrows and the vulnerability of what it means to raise children. 

In 2008 Mitt Romney ran for president; in 2010 he shares his vision for America’s future in “No Apology.” Keeping up with the theme of American politics is “Game Change” by John Heileman and Mark Halperin.  This book covers all the drama of the historical 2008 Presidential Election and the key players who were in the hunt for the ultimate prize.

“Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang Bang,” is the new memoir by comedian Chelsea Handler, focusing on her childhood, love life and fame. Non-fiction author Michael Lewis rounds out the new non-fiction titles with his book entitled “The Big Short,” detailing the market collapse of Wall Street.

Keep these titles in mind, and one or more may end up on your summer reading list.  More new titles coming your way, so stay tuned; I’ll be back with more books for all you bibliophiles.

Roberta Cianciosi heads the Friends of the Maricopa Public Library. She is an avid reader, a published writer and will be offering information on new books available at the library each month.

Photo by Joyce Hollis