Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos

On July 4th, when a plane crashes in Lincoln County, Nevada, sheriff Porter Beck discovers that it went down on land owned by his childhood friend, Jesse. Porter has not seen Jesse in a while and, after visiting him, realizes that Jesse is probably involved in some illegal activities. It also seems that someone deliberately crashed the plane on his land. But why? Soon, Porter and his colleagues find themselves caught between a Mexican drug cartel, a teenage hacker, Chinese spies, and the federal government. Shades of Mercy is the second book in the Porter Beck series and features even more action than the first. A great choice for readers who like mysteries and thrillers.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

After being given a leave of absence from her job because of her drinking, Jane, an archivist, moves back to her hometown of Awadapquit, Maine. Jane is living in her mother's home that she and her sister, Holly, are getting ready to sell. With not a lot to do, Jane agrees to help Genevieve, a wealthy new resident, research the history of her house. Genevieve believes the house, built in the 1800's, is haunted. The Cliffs tells the story of Jane and the inhabitants of Genevieve's house over the years, and delves into the Native American history of the area. A great choice for book groups.

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

After Lula Dean has succeeded in removing all the books she has deemed inappropriate from all the school libraries and the public library in Troy, Georgia, she creates a little library in her front lawn, featuring the books she feels people should be reading. However, someone secretly removes the actual books and takes the book jackets from Lula's recommendations and puts them on books that have been banned. The novel tells the stories of the townspeople who read these books and the effects reading the books have on their lives. One also wonders what will happen when Lula finds out about the switch. A humorous, satirical read. Readalikes include The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady, and Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Rocky has always looked forward to the family's annual summer vacation to Cape Cod. She and her husband, Nick, have been renting the same house for over twenty years. This year, in the midst of menopause, watching her parents age, and her two children (Jamie and Willa) well on their way to having their own lives, Rocky finds past events more on her mind than ever. Sandwich explores motherhood, marriage, and being someone's daughter at midlife. A great choice for book discussions.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

At 70, Daphne has shut herself off from the world for the past fifteen years. Impulsively, she decides to join the senior citizens social group at the local community center to try and make some friends. Art, an actor whose job prospects have dried up, becomes a member too. When part of the ceiling of the building collapses at the first meeting, the group might be over before it's even started, since there's talk of the local council closing the center. Lydia, who runs the club, might then lose her job, and teenage single dad Ziggy will not have the low cost daycare that's also housed in the building, which he needs for his baby daughter, Kylie. Told through the eyes of Daphne, Art, Lydia, and Ziggy, the novel highlights the group's camaraderie and friendship and their aim to keep the center open. A great read-alike for Freya Sampson and The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett.

Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor

It's 1965 and Franklin Warren is starting a new job with the Vermont State Police after leaving Boston under difficult circumstances. He's called out to the Weber farm on Agony Hill where Hugh Weber is found dead in the family's barn. Hugh made many enemies in the small town of Bethany with his outspoken beliefs and his weekly letters to the local newspaper. His much younger wife, Sylvie, also falls under suspicion. In this first book in a new series, Taylor introduces the reader to many interesting characters that hopefully will be featured in future books. Perfect for readers who enjoy Julia Spencer-Fleming. It will be published in August.

Everyone Knows But You by Thomas E. Ricks

FBI agent Ryan Tapia is settling into his new job in coastal Maine when he's called out to help pull a dead body out of the water. The victim, Ricky Cutts, was not well liked in Liberty Island. Ryan finds himself an outsider in the small town where the residents seem to abide by a different code. As Ryan deals with the demons that caused him to move across the country from California, he also works hard to uncover who was responsible for the crime. Everyone Knows But You is a solid read, perfect for those who enjoy mysteries set in the outdoors.