Westwood Public Library
Westwood, Massachusetts

A mother’s errand turns dark and mystical in Hunt’s newest take on witches in Colonial New England. A bright-eyed Goody walks into the woods to gather berries for her husband and young son when the air turns dark. Soon our nameless protagonist is lost, and encounters a magnetic Captain Jane, a bizarre hermit named Eliza, and an ephemeral girl in a yellow dress, each one welcoming and yet exuding a cautious eagerness. Circumstances continually keep the Goody from making her way home. As the tale unravels, snippets of the Goody’s past come into focus and the reader begins to understand that Goody has much more in common with the dark, ominous forest than it first appeared.

With an unambiguous ending, In the House in the Dark of the Woods is a quick and thoroughly enjoyable horror novel. Hunt’s style will not please readers who strongly prefer prosaic writing, but the story is so engrossing that one can easily overcome any prejudices regarding narrative style. A perfect treat (or is it a trick?) for Halloween. Highly recommended for horror fans and admirers of lyrical narrative. Click here to place your copy on hold today!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.

Atkinson’s new spy novel is clever, detailed and consuming. The publisher's marketing describes Atkinson’s writing as “textured”, and the term fits as suspense, humor and a bit of grit is woven throughout. Good historical fiction has the responsibility of balancing plot with fact, and it is in the details that Atkinson’s novel moves from good to great (see her Author’s Note and accompanying bibliography for her thoughts on this aspect of writing).  A twist near the end may offend some readers who instinctually give credence to the protagonist, but you can never trust a spy. Fans of Atkinson’s will certainly be pleased. Highly recommended! Place your copy on hold here!

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. On Sale Date: January 9, 2018

The Immortalists opens with four siblings- Simon, Klara, Daniel and Varya- living in New York City in 1969. Acting on local gossip, the children go to the apartment of a traveling psychic who tells each child the date of their death. What follows is an electric story of love, magic and obsession and violence.

Each child responds differently to their death date- Simon decides to live life to the fullest as a dancer in San Francisco while Klara seeks refuge in magic. Daniel tries to change his fate and Varya, a scientist, searches for immortality. Each sibling has a rich internal monologue that showcases the changes each character undergoes as they get closer to their death date.

The Immortalists implores the reader to ask him or herself uncomfortable questions, “If you could know when you will die, would you?”, “If you knew, what would you change about your life, today?” and “Can you change your destiny?” This story is uniquely American in its settings, as we travel from New York City, to San Francisco, to Las Vegas and across rural and suburban America.

This is story that moves quickly and totally engulfs you, and you will be hard pressed to set in down. The Immortalists is a perfect pick for a book club, and will be a popular title in 2018.

Click here to request your copy today!

The End We Start From by Megan Hunter. On Sale Date: November 7, 2017

Sparse and poetic, The End We Start From tells the story of a natural disaster in England from the perspective of an unnamed new mum. Separated early on from her husband, R., Mum and son, Z., navigate their new lives as refugees.

Z's developmental milestones chronicle Mums journey. Hunter is a wordsmith- she perfectly describes the anxieties of new motherhood and the tenacity needed by survivors.

The lyrical format may be a turnoff to some readers, but one could argue that the sparse sentences and frequent use of the space bar help the reader digest the heaviness of the subject. This title is highly recommended for disaster junkies and mothers looking for a tear-jerker.

Click here to request your copy today!