January 20, 2023
New Fiction
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes – Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer. Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she sees a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer – the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey. At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin…
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff – Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in: She actually lost him – he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it’s a rumor that just won’t die. It turns out that being known as a “self-made” widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It’s even been good for business: No one dares to not buy her jewelry. Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her “expertise,” making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal. And not all of them are asking nicely. With Geeta’s dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she’s built – but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins – As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But now in their thirties, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls’ trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend. Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and was rented for the summer by Noel Gordon, a notorious rock star. Desperate to reignite his creative spark, Noel invited up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also set in motion a chain of events that led to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album – and ended in Pierce’s brutal murder. As Emily digs into the Villa’s complicated history, she begins to suspect there’s more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock and roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred – and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.
Come from Away by Genevieve Graham – In the fall of 1939, Grace Baker watches her three brothers board Canadian ships headed for a faraway war. Grace stays on the home front, doing her part and tending the general store that keeps her small Nova Scotian community running. Everyone says the conflict will be over soon. Three years later, the fighting rages on and the harsh realities of war hit close to home. Telegrams and casualty lists bring devastating news while rumours swirl about “wolf packs” of German U-boats lurking in the deep waters along the shore. Then, one day, a handsome stranger ventures into Grace’s store claiming to be a trapper come from away, and as the weeks go by, she finds herself looking forward to seeing his gentle smile. But Rudi, her mysterious visitor, is not the lonely outsider he appears to be. When the truth comes to light, Grace is forced to question everything she has believed about the enemy her brothers are battling overseas and the difference between doing one’s duty and doing what is right. And if Grace is to have a chance to love, she must not only choose a side but take a stand.