Books

A combination memoir, hip-hop homage and lyrical explication, Jay-Z's Decoded is a provocative read. The book itself feels like a coffee-table book—lots of images and a funkier layout—and is as fun to flip through as it is to read.

A great spy thriller, reminiscent of LeCarre.  Cumming's book explores the possibility of their being a sixth man in the infamous 'Cambridge Five' spy ring.  Sam Gaddis, who thinks he is on to a great story, finds himself in the middle of a standoff between British and Russian operatives.  Check Our Catalog.

The 'Lincoln Lawyer' character returns in this legal thriller about a woman accused of murdering the banker who was foreclosing on her home. Does L.A. defense attorney Mickey Haller think she's innocent...or guilty...or innocent...and does it even matter?  You have to wait until the last twist to find out.

This was a great read and Publisher's Weekly got it right when they called it "a quirky and stylish revisionist western."  Narrated by one of the fearsome Sisters brothers, this is a modern take on a good old-fashioned western.  Charlie and Eli Sisters set out on a mission, but find themselves on more of a quest.  A fun read.  Check Our Catalog

This is the fourth book in Trollope's Barchester Chronicles series but you can read it as a stand-alone novel (which I did).  Basically an English romantic comedy that relentlessly pokes fun at both politicians and clergymen. Some of Trollope's comments could be inserted into a contemporary op ed column (or blog, even) and sound totally right on!  Satisfying fun for 19th century fiction lovers.

Inspired to re-read this old favorite before seeing the latest movie version, I found it to be more modern--and even feminist (despite the mad woman in the attic)--than I remembered. 

Set in a fictional Mexican port town, this novel follows the investigations of an uncle and nephew team streaching from the 1970s to current day.  An investigative journalist in current day Paracuan end up dead.  Detectove Ramon Cabrera discovers a link to a 1970s serial killer investigated by his uncle Vincente Rangel.  Solares delves into the corruption of Mexican police and politicians.  This is a great read for fans of detective fiction looking for a more exotic locations.