Storm Tide by Paul Doiron

Maine game warden Mike Bowditch is witness to the deaths of Brian and Jenna Malloy in a house fire. No one is sorry about their passing, since Brian was a suspect in the disappearance of his son Liam. When another death occurs to someone who was accused of rape and murder, Mike wonders if there's a vigilante out there dispensing his own brand of justice. Things get personal when it appears that Mike himself is being targeted. Mike wonders what he did in the past for someone to come after him and his family. Mike is especially worried, since he and his wife, Stacey have just welcomed their first child. Will Mike be able to keep his family safe and uncover the culprit? Taking place over almost a year, Storm Tide is another solid entry in this long-running mystery series.

The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright by Casey Sherman

In 1914, at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin estate, one of the servants set the home ablaze and murdered several people inside. The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright recounts the life of Frank Lloyd Wright through the lens of his romantic relationships, most notably Mamah Borthwick. Frank and Mamah were both married to other people when they started their affair, but were soulmates. They were starting to build a life together, but the tragedy at Taliesin cut their dreams short. While the book is a work of narrative non-fiction and moves quickly, I would have loved more pictures of Wright's architectural works that are mentioned and the people involved in the story. The book also heavily relies upon Frank Lloyd Wright's autobiography and newspaper articles of the time as source materials, because that's all that is available. While that's not the author's fault, the book feels slight and at times overdramatized.

But For the Grace by Peter Grainger

In this second book of the DC Smith series, Smith is the lead investigator in the death of Joan Riley who lived at Rosemary House, a retirement community. Did Joan die by her own hand or was someone else involved? Joan was part of a quartet of friends, and another of the friends, Elspeth, died a few months ago. Could Elspeth's death be considered suspicious also? But For the Grace is another solid police procedural from author Peter Grainger.

An Accidental Death by Peter Grainger

DS Smith is asked to look into the death of Wayne Fletcher, who drowned in a local river. The case has been marked as an accidental death, but DI Reeve doesn't feel that's the case. Joined by newbie DC Chris Waters, Smith agrees with Reeve's assessment and soon finds that the case has its roots in the Yugoslav Wars. In this first book of the long running series that has just been published in the U.S., Smith writes a mystery that will appeal to fans of Peter Robinson and Ann Cleeves.

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

Dolly and her teenage son Gus are spending the summer with her dad and her younger brother Christopher to help with the cleanup after a fire in her childhood home. Located in the oceanside small town of Whitfield, Rhode Island, Dolly's family has owned Brick Fish House for four generations. Dolly plans on working there, but longs to expand the business with all the baked goods she makes. In a chance encounter, she meets wealthy Stewart Whitfield, who wants her to pose as his girlfriend for the summer after his fiancee cheats on him. Dolly agrees, since Stewart will be paying her enough money to replace the roof on her father's house. Their arrangement soon becomes personal as they develop feelings for one another. In her fifth novel, Monaghan writes another great beach read with in-depth characters that you really root for.

Dog Person by Camille Pagan

Miguel is the owner of Lakeside Books, which sits in a tourist town on Lake Michigan. He hasn't been the same since his wife Amelia (a romance author) died more than a year ago. In fact, the bookstore is now in danger of closing after bestselling author Jonathan Middleton-Biggs didn't show up for an author event Lakeside was hosting. Miguel decides to try and find Jonathan so they can do a makeup event, but instead he meets Jonathan's sister Fiona and niece, who coincidentally is named Amelia Mae. Told through the eyes of Miguel's and Amelia's dog, Harold, Dog Person is a story of love, loss, and second chances.

Ironwood by Michael Connelly

Stilwell is the top law enforcement person on Catalina Island. He and his team get word that a drug drop is happening, but the team is ambushed and Stilwell then has to find out who was responsible. In addition, Stilwell gets to assist Renee Ballard of the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit when cases that both are working on turn out to be connected. A solid second book in the series that's hard to put down.

The Calico Cat at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi

In this second book in the Chibineko Kitchen series, the reader meets more people who have come to the restaurant to be reunited with someone from their past who has died. There's Nagi, who has been told by her doctors that she has five years left to live. She wants to see her mother, who also died young. Keita, now working after many years of unemployment, needs to show his mom how far he's come. Mitsuyo, on the other hand, would like to see Ken'ichi Kawakubo, a singer who was famous when she was young. The tales, while at times somber, provide closure to characters, which is satisfying.

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

In the 1840's, sisters Sallie and Addie live with their parents near Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Neither are married, and with a scandal looming over the family, their marital prospects are slim. Cojoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker have recently moved to the area, and soon the sisters find themselves spending time with the brothers and then marrying them. In The Foursome, the story of the two couples is told through the eyes of Sallie, who is Eng's wife. The reader gets an up close and personal view of what the two couples lives were like as they had children, owned slaves (even though Chang and Eng were formerly enslaved), faced prejudice, and lived through the Civil War. An interesting story, especially for book groups.

To the End of Reckoning by Joseph Moldover

Lukas Moore has left an acting career behind in New York City and come back to his hometown to take care of his father, Richard, a psychiatrist, who had a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a car. Richard can't be left alone for long and, while he was always opinionated and difficult, he now sees details others miss and has become obsessed by the death of fellow psychiatrist Jason Grant. Jason disappeared a year ago and is presumed dead. Richard feels Jason was murdered and draws Lukas into helping him investigate what happened to Jason. To the End of Reckoning is a debut mystery with interesting characters and a puzzle that keeps the reader turning the pages.

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

With DS Ottey taking time off, DS George Cross finds himself working under DI Bobby Warner on the investigation into the murder of retired teacher Alistair Moreton. Moreton was not well-liked in the small village of Crockerne, and was sadistic and violent to the young boys when he was headmaster at a boys' school many years ago. Additionally, Moreton and his next door neighbors, the Cotterells, had a long feud. There are lots of people who would have loved to see him dead--but which one actually killed him? In this sixth book of the DS Cross series, Sullivan writes a mystery that will satisfy lovers of British police procedurals.

Storm Warning by Alice Henderson

Wildlife biologist Alex Carter finds herself on the island of Hawaii working for the Center for Sea Turtle Restoration to monitor the hawksbill turtles in the area and watch over their nests. As Alex camps on the beach, she is able to recruit volunteers to help her with the project, but also comes into contact with poachers who want to steal the turtles and their eggs. With a hurricane set to make landfall in a few days, Alex will also have to relocate the eggs until the weather danger passes. Soon, however, Alex and some of the people she met are in the crosshairs of a group that have come to the island to wreak havoc with no regards to human life. Storm Warning, the fifth book in the series, gives the reader lots of details about sea turtles and their changing environment along with a suspenseful survival story. 

Inheritance by Jane Park

Anne is a successful lawyer in New York City who has tried hard to put her childhood as the daughter of Korean immigrants behind her. During her youth in rural Alberta, her parents struggled to be accepted, yet both worked long hours to provide for Anne and her older brother, Charles. Charles chafed under his parents strict rules and discipline, so Anne took his place as the child that would achieve all their parent's dreams by going to Yale and making a generous salary. Anne's father has just passed away, so she's back in Edmonton for the funeral and to settle his financial affairs. It is also time for Anne to reflect on the past and to think about what she really wants out of life. A story about the memories of childhood, familial obligation, and coming to terms with the past.

The Last Letters of Sally and Walter by Cammie McGovern

Sally and Walter are both residents at the Golden Grove retirement community and meet when Sally comes to the Scrabble club that Walter runs. Walter happens to be the only member, but soon they are playing a game and it becomes clear that they are kindred spirits. Sally is also a very good Scrabble player, probably better than Walter, because she stays calm under pressure. Soon, Walter is coaching Sally and they find their friendship possibly deepening into something more, but both find that they have unresolved issues with their adult children that they need to take care of. Additionally, Sally's increasing Parkinson's symptoms are causing her to revert inward. Can Sally and Walter expose their true feelings and become truly vulnerable with each other? The Last Letters of Sally and Walter is a cozy story of friendship and romance similar to Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and the novels of Elizabeth Berg.

Last One Out by Jane Harper

Five years ago, Ro Crowley's 21-year-old son Sam disappeared from their small town of Carralon Ridge in rural New South Wales. Since then, Ro and her husband Griff have split and she has moved to Sydney with their daughter Della, although she comes back to Carralon Ridge annually for a memorial around the time Sam was last seen. The few residents that are left in the town join the family in remembering Sam, but numbers decrease every year, since the local mine has continued to buy people's homes. In Last One Out, Harper writes a novel that's a slow burn, with tension building as she introduces all the inhabitants of the town through Ro's eyes, a mother who really wants to know what happened to her son. With a great sense of place and atmosphere, this is one of her finest, right up there with The Lost Man. Absolutely one of the best books I've read this year.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Natalie lives with her wealthy husband Caleb and five children on a five hundred acre farm in Utah. She is an influencer who has embraced the homestead lifestyle and is fervently Christian. However, there are cracks in the image that Natalie is presenting, and one day she wakes up on her land--but it's 1855, not the present time. What has happened to Natalie and why is she where she is? Yesteryear recounts Natalie's time in the past and goes back to give the reader insight on how Natalie and Caleb met, in addition to them establishing their farm, Yesteryear. A book that's hard to put down and eminently discussable.

Upward Bound by Woody Brown

In Upward Bound, the reader meets both the employees and the clients of an adult day care center for people with disabilities. There's Walter, who's non-verbal and has gone to college. Tom nurses a crush on Ann (one of the workers), but complications of his cerebral palsy prevent him from telling her of his feelings. Dave, the director of the facility, is a failed actor who tries to do what he thinks is best without adequate funding. Worker Carlos is beloved by everyone and has developed a strong bond with Jorge, who doesn't speak and has a tendency to bolt from the center frequently. Written by author Woody Brown--whom the character Walter is based on--the novel is able to give the reader much insight into the disability community.

Missing by E.A. Jackson

In 1990, amid a heatwave in London, DI Martha Allen is in charge of the investigation into the disappearance of five-month-old Bella Carpenter. Bella and her parents--Viv and Tom--are visiting from Wells and staying at a local hotel where Bella was taken from the room as her parents slept. With two distraught parents and intense media coverage, no one is more surprised than Martha when Bella is dropped off at the police station by a woman named Nell Beatty. Even though Bella is back with her family and Martha is told to drop the case, she has lingering questions about the situation. Now, thirty years later, Martha gets word that Nell Beatty has died and decides once more to investigate Bella's kidnapping. With a tense, almost claustrophobic setting, Missing is a book that's hard to put down. A great read-alike for Nicci French's Frieda Klein series.

The Politician by Tim Sullivan

The former mayor of Bristol, Peggy Frampton, is found dead in her home. She was not without enemies--after her tenure she provided online advice and had more than five million followers. DS George Cross and DS Josie Ottey soon are looking for her murderer. The Politician follows along with their investigation, but also explores George's feelings about his mother, who left his father Raymond when George was a child. What part might Raymond have played in the breakup? A solid entry to the series.

Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama

In this delightful short novel, the story starts at the Marble Cafe in Tokyo, where Wataru, the manager, has feelings for a regular customer that he has nicknamed Ms. Hot Chocolate. From there, in each subsequent chapter the reader meets characters who are tangentially connected to one another. There's Ena who is reprimanded by senior teacher Yasuko for wearing nail polish to her job as a kindergarten teacher and  Yasuko, who gets her own story about her friendship with childhood friend Risa (who is getting married). Risa and her husband, Hiroyuki, then honeymoon in Sydney, where several of the stories are set. Hot Chocolate on Thursday then comes full circle with the last story told by Maco, Ms Hot Chocolate. A cozy, heartwarming read.

Life: a Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

As Flo Greene nears the end of her life at ninety-two years old, she begins to write letters to a woman named Ruthie. Ruthie grew up next door to Flo and they developed a strong friendship. Flo has decided to leave her house and possessions to Ruthie in her will, since Flo and her late husband Terrence had no children. Throughout Life: a Love Story, Flo recounts the events of her life, both major and minor, through the possessions she's leaving behind. A heartwarming story of connection and love.

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

When the women in Lauren's family are born, they are given a ticket that they can use once to turn back time. Lauren's mother, Marcella, used hers when Lauren was fifteen and Lauren's father, Dave, died in a car accident. Lauren's grandmother, free spirit Sylvia, still has hers, as does Lauren. The three generations of women, along with Dave, lived together in a house in Malibu (that Sylvia bought in the 1960's) until Lauren grew up. Lauren, now married to Leo, is coming back to the house as Leo is working in New York City for the summer. There has been strain in Lauren's marriage of late, owing to their inability to have a child. Leo wants to stop trying and move on, Lauren does not. When Lauren's first love, Stone, comes back into the picture she finds it hard to resist his charms. Once and Again explores the relationship between mothers and daughters and how the opportunity of a "do over" affects people's lives.

The Patient by Tim Sullivan

In this third book in the DS Cross series, George and his colleagues Ottey and Mackenzie investigate the death of a young woman named Flick after her mother, Sandra, repeatedly tries to tell the authorities that she was murdered rather than having died of a drug overdose. The team finds evidence that seems to support her claim, along with several suspects that deserve a look. The Patient is a satisfying police procedural that continues to develop the personal relationship between George, Ottey, and Mackenzie. Give to readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves and Peter Robinson.

The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera

Siriwathi "Siri" Perera drives a taxi in New York City. One evening she picks up public defender Amaya Fernando and Siri senses they could possibly be friends, since both are Sri Lankan. While in Brooklyn, Siri then gets another fare and is stunned soon after to find the man dead with the knife still in his chest in her back seat. She then calls Amaya for help and, after calling the police, Siri is then arrested for murder. While out on bail, with Amaya's help, Siri must investigate who the man she supposedly murder was, in addition to finding the real killer to clear her name. The Midnight Taxi is a debut mystery featuring an likable main character in Siri, with a rich backstory.

One & Only by Maurene Goo

Soon to turn forty, Cassia works in the family business--One & Only Matchmaking--in Los Angeles. It was started by Cassia's grandmother Halmoni and her great aunt Emoni, and has been very successful. All the women in the family have the ability when meeting someone to be able to see their past lives and loves, so they are able to produce a name of the person who is their perfect match for their clients. Cassia has known the name of hers, Daniel Nam, for ten years, but hasn't had any luck finding him. When she meets a much younger guy named Ellis, they have an instant connection and sparks fly. Then Ellis introduces Cassia to his boss, Daniel Nam. Can Cassia forget Ellis and be with her fated, Daniel? One & Only is the adult debut of young adult author Maurene Goo.

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

When Eden Fox comes back from a run, she's perplexed because her key won't open the front door of her house, Spyglass. The woman that answers the door looks like her and tells Eden that she can't possibly be Eden Fox because she is. Even her husband, Harrison who's home at the time, tells Eden to leave. The big question for the reader becomes just who the real Eden Fox is. Another storyline in the book is told through the eyes of a woman named Birdy who six months ago inherited Spyglass from her estranged grandmother. In My Husband's Wife the stories of Eden, Birdy, Harrison, and those around them are told as Feeney reveals one surprise after another in her signature style.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

When Tilly gets a phone call from Alfie, the owner of London bookshop Book Lane, letting her know she has a book to collect, she's confused. It turns out her husband Joe, who passed away six months ago, ordered a book a month over a year for her. At first, Tilly is angry about the gift, but slowly, over the course of the year begins to embrace the books and messages that Joe left for her. She also begins to open her heart. A cozy, heartwarming tale, perfect for readers of Jojo Moyes, Clare Pooley, and Jenny Colgan.

The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan

In the second DS Cross mystery, George leads his team in the investigation of the murder of cyclist Alex Paphides. Alex was found dead at a building site. Who could have wanted to kill him? Did it have something to do with Alex's business dealings or possibly the cycling club that he was part of? Suspects abound, but the guilty are no match for George's brilliant investigative techniques. A traditional British procedural, especially for fans of the Monk and House television shows.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Debbie lives with her husband, Cooper, and two teenage daughters, Lexi and Izzy, in suburban Massachusetts. When things start going wrong in her daughters' lives and she's fired from her job as an advice columnist at the local newspaper, she decides to exact revenge upon those who have wronged her family. Once Debbie starts down this road, she finds it hard to stop... A novel that's hard not to finish in one sitting.

The Hitch by Sara Levine

Rose is thrilled when her brother Victor and his wife Astrid let her take care of her six-year-old nephew Nathan while they go away to Mexico for a week. Rose can't wait to spend a lot of time with Nathan, since they usually only see each other for a few hours on Saturdays. However, soon after Victor and Astrid leave, Rose's dog Walter kills a corgi at a park and Nathan tells Rose that the corgi's spirit is now inside of him. This incident, of course, unsettles the quirky and judgmental Rose as she attempts to make things right, i.e. exorcise the dog. A novel, at times humorous, about love and familial obligations.

The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits

Twelve years ago, when he found out his wife Amy was having an affair, Tom vowed to leave her once their younger child went to college. That day has come, as Miri is leaving for Carnegie Mellon. After dropping Miri off in Pittsburgh, Tom heads west, visiting his brother in South Bend, an old girlfriend in Las Vegas, eventually arriving in California to see his son, Michael. However, a mysterious illness is dogging him as he reflects on the relationships and the choices he's made. A meditative novel of one man's life.

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

Lottie, now in her 70's, has tried to put her violent past behind her, but when producer Plum Dixon knocks on Lottie's door wanting to interview her about some murders she was accused of many years ago, Lottie murders Plum and disposes of her body. The police know Plum was at Lottie's house and are asking if she knows what happened to Plum. Will Lottie be able to stay ahead of the authorities, keep the secret of all the people she's killed and live out her retirement in peace? Only time will tell...