New ‘reads’ for the new year

With 2010 just beginning, the Maricopa Public Library has some great new reads to start the year. 

The alphabet mysteries by Sue Grafton are coming to an end, six more letters to go before Kinsey Millhone says goodbye. In the meantime, Grafton fans, this should keep you happy for the time being:  “U is for Undertow.” Our super sleuth Kinsey is now 38 years old and celebrating her birthday, when a visitor to her office asks for help in solving a 21-year-old mystery involving a four-year-old girl.

What do Napoleon Bonaparte and a group of multi-millionaires have in common? To find the answers, just read the newest thriller featuring the ever-popular hero Cotton Malone in Steve Berry’s newest “The Paris Vendetta.” J.A. Jance’s heroine Ali Reynolds is back in “Trial by Fire,” book number five in the series. The story is set right here in Arizona, and the search is on to find out the identity of a woman pulled from a fire.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s Meredith Gentry is back in “Divine Misdemeanors.” In this newest book in the series, feys are being murdered and mortals healed by magic are performing miracles, which will keep Meredith Gentry very busy. W.E.B. Griffin is back with his latest novel, “The Honor of Spies,” showcasing OSS agent Cletus Frade. Former NYPD policeman/detective Stone Barrington has another case to solve in Stuart Woods’ “Kisser.”

A potential terror plot and a mysterious beast come to life in James Rollins’s “Altar of Eden.” Former Vietnam sniper Bob Lee Swagger, also known as “Bob the Nailer,” is back in Stephen Hunter’s “I, Sniper.” “Shades of Grey” by British author Jasper Fforde makes its debut in the United States this month. Jasper Fforde is best known for his “Thursday Next” novels and “The Eyre Affair.” J.M. Coetzee, who has written fictional works of biography, comes out with the third installment in “Summertime.” In this new work, he writes about the death of writer John Coetzee, told through the eyes of friends and acquaintances. 

Other notable releases in fiction include Jude Devereaux’s return to her roots in historical romance with “Days of Gold,” set in Scotland and America. Another romance favorite, Julie Garwood, is back with “Sizzle.” Soon-to-be film school graduate Lyra Prescott unwittingly films a crime, and trouble comes to call along with strikingly handsome FBI agent Sam Kincaid to the rescue. Everyone’s favorite nanny, Nan the heroine from the “Nanny Diaries,” is back in Emily McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’ “Nanny Returns.”  Twelve years later Nan is back in New York for more adventures among New York’s trendiest residents.

Alexander McCall Smith, author of the well-received “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” has a heartwarming story about the importance of friendship and music in “La’s Orchestra Saves the World.” Set in England during World War II, Lavender, known by her friends as ‘La,’ flees war torn London for a small town and forms an orchestra. 

Jayne Ann Krentz introduces her new paranormal romantic adventures in the Dreamlight Trilogy beginning with “Fired Up,” set in 21st century Seattle and Las Vegas. A serial killer terrorizes residents, and hidden secrets are revealed in Tami Hoag’s “Deeper than the Dead.” The late Vanity Fair contributor Dominick Dunne’s last book “Too Much Money,” is a sequel to his earlier work “People Like Us.” In science fiction, the Star Wars story continues with Drew Karpyshyn’s “Dynasty of Evil,” book three in the Star Wars Death Bane series. Orson Scott Card’s “Hidden Empire” is the thrilling sequel to his previous bestseller “Empire.” 

For young adults, James Patterson has a fantasy novel entitled “Witch and Wizard” about two teens who discover they possess magical powers. Maricopa’s Spanish-speaking residents may enjoy “El Simbolo Perdido,” the Spanish translation for “The Lost Symbol.” 

Fiction titles are aplenty, but those who prefer non-fiction need not be disappointed, there are new books for fans of the genre.

First up, Julie Powell’s “Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession,” the new memoir from the author of “Julie and Julia.” Medical issue doctors, Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz (Oprah’s favorite doc) now write about pregnancy in “You: Having a Baby.”  Michael Belfiore gives readers a glimpse inside DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, in “The Department of Mad Scientists” a book about a group of scientists who have given us the Internet and other amazing scientific inventions. 

“Stones into Schools,” is Grege Mortenson’s follow-up to his book “Three Cups of Tea.”  This is the story of his desire to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mary Karr, author of “The Liar’s Club” is back with a new memoir “Lit,” dealing with her early years as a writer, wife and mother and her bouts with drugs, drinking and the dissolution of her marriage. Finally, there’s Zadie Smith, who has a new collection of essays in “Changing My Mind.”

There should be a little something for everyone this winter. However, the New Year will offer more reading opportunities for one and all, and I would like to wish all my fellow readers here in the city of Maricopa, a very happy, healthy and ‘literary’ New Year.

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

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