Years ago, I saw a documentary on Florida's Dozier School for Boys and it led me to the official reports on the abuses the school piled on its inmates, White and Black, during its many years as a "reform school." Colson Whitehead won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2020 for the novel The Nickel … Continue reading The Nickel Boys – Colson Whitehead (audio narrators Colson Whitehead and JD Dean)
Listen to Your Sister – Neena Viel (Audio Narrators – Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd, Zeno Robinson)
Listen to Your Sister is partly a horror story, but the focus is on three African American siblings, raised in Hollywood, Florida and now living in Seattle at a time of racial strife. The youngest, Jamie, is 16. His 23 year old sister Callie is his guardian because a determination was made he was no … Continue reading Listen to Your Sister – Neena Viel (Audio Narrators – Eric Lockley, Kristolyn Lloyd, Zeno Robinson)
White King – Juan Gomez-Jurado
White King is the third entry in a trilogy (so far) about Antonia Scott, her partner Jon Guitterez and their boss, "Mentor." Antonia is part of the Red Queen program, an international group of geniuses serving the government in matters of high crime and espionage. We know from the beginning that she believes a man … Continue reading White King – Juan Gomez-Jurado
Nemesis – Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X number 10)
I think, although I am not sure, that this is my favorite Orphan X novel. Evan Smoak, formerly "Orphan X" and now the "Nowhere Man" has sadly found himself at serious odds with his only adult friend and weapons provider Tommy Stojak. Early on, they meet and Tommy lets Evan know that he should never … Continue reading Nemesis – Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X number 10)
Red Clay – Charles Fancher (audio narrator Dion Graham)
Red Clay is definitely a 2025 favorite for me. We learn the stories of a formerly enslaved family and the family that owned them through a shared oral history that takes place in 1943 after the death of Felix Parker. Addie Parker, now 90, was a member of the Parker family who owned Felix. She … Continue reading Red Clay – Charles Fancher (audio narrator Dion Graham)
All the Devils are Here (Atticus Priest Book 4) – Mark Dawson (Audio Narrator – Simon Vance)
Atticus Priest is back. His "hold his nose" job for a wealthy contractor who needs really good dirt on his wife for revenge and for their divorce proceedings is central to the plot. Frank Green's wive Alice made his bribery schemes involving the local council public and caused his arrest. He needs to go after … Continue reading All the Devils are Here (Atticus Priest Book 4) – Mark Dawson (Audio Narrator – Simon Vance)
Blood Ties – Jo Nesbo
I don't know how he does it, but Jo Nesbo always gets me to root for the rule breakers and, in the case of Carl and Roy Opgard for stone cold murderers and accessories to murder. The brothers live in Os. They were introduced to us in The Kingdom in 1921, back when I still … Continue reading Blood Ties – Jo Nesbo
Lone Wolf – Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #9)
When I open an Orphan X book, the writing, somehow casual, yet meticulous, immediately makes that novel a "can't put down" read. In Lone Wolf, in a topsy-turvy this can only happen to Evan Smoak, the search for a lost dog turns into high drama. Evan is often unable to feel human connections to people … Continue reading Lone Wolf – Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #9)
The Boxcar Librarian – Brianna Labuskes
Three women's stories start in three different decades and merge eventually in a super satisfying piece of historical fiction about strong women who make their way in Montana. in 1914, Collette is part rough and tumble, part self-educated and pro-union. Her father, who is raising Collette is a miner, self educated and a strong union … Continue reading The Boxcar Librarian – Brianna Labuskes
The Quiet Librarian – Allen Eskens
Hana, a Bosnian refugee, dresses in frumpy clothes and stays out of the way as an employee at a library in Minnesota. And then, one day, a detective comes in to ask her about her friend, Amina. She is dead. Her grandson, a seven year old orphan, now has no family. And Hana fears the … Continue reading The Quiet Librarian – Allen Eskens
They Called me Bookworm 