Jane Pek’s sophomore novel “The Rivals” continues the adventures of Claudia Lin, our beloved mystery-novel-obsessed sleuth from “The Verifiers,” elevating the stakes while delving deeper into questions of identity, trust, and the increasingly blurred lines between human and artificial intelligence. The Evolution of a Series When we first met Claudia Lin in “The Verifiers,” she […]
Jane Pek’s debut novel “The Verifiers” introduces us to Claudia Lin, a refreshingly unconventional protagonist who defies her Chinese-American family’s expectations by taking a job at a mysterious online dating detective agency. The novel, the first in the Claudia Lin series (with “The Rivals” forthcoming), marks an impressive entry into the mystery genre, though it […]
In her sophomore novel The Shutouts, Gabrielle Korn crafts an intricate tapestry of human relationships against the backdrop of a climate-ravaged America. Building on the world she established in Yours for the Taking, Korn weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives to tell a story that is both intimately personal and sweepingly universal. Plot and Structure: […]
In her latest collection of short stories, Show Don’t Tell, Curtis Sittenfeld once again demonstrates her exceptional ability to dissect the complexities of contemporary relationships with surgical precision and profound empathy. Known for her bestselling novels like Prep, American Wife, and Romantic Comedy, Sittenfeld brings her trademark wit and psychological insight to this collection of […]
In Christopher Bollen’s latest psychological thriller, “Havoc,” we are transported to a fading luxury hotel on the banks of the Nile, where an elderly widow’s compulsion to “fix” other people’s lives leads her down an increasingly sinister path. The novel masterfully blends elements of classic psychological thrillers with contemporary themes of isolation, pandemic anxiety, and […]
When I was little, my family did not travel far and wide for vacations. But my parents made every extra coin count when it came to buying books and affording the library membership. The long established British and Rotary club libraries in Bengaluru—my hometown in India—were too expensive. Somy dad took me on his bicycle to […]
The Geology of Greece by Joseph O’Donoghue Genre: Science / Philosophy ISBN: 9798350922189 Print Length: 396 pages Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by Erica Ball A persuasive look at how the Greek landscape is evidence for a massive worldwide flood and the sinking of Atlantis If you’ve ever wondered why the Acropolis in Athens is such a […]
In her sophomore novel “Good Dirt,” Charmaine Wilkerson weaves an intricate tapestry of family history, personal trauma, and cultural identity through the story of the Freeman family and their cherished stoneware jar. Following the success of her debut novel “Black Cake,” Wilkerson once again demonstrates her mastery in crafting multi-generational narratives that explore the complexities […]
Anne Tyler’s latest novel, Three Days in June, is a masterfully crafted story that unfolds over just three days surrounding a wedding, yet manages to encompass decades of love, regret, and family dynamics. As with her previous works like Breathing Lessons and The Accidental Tourist, Tyler demonstrates her extraordinary ability to mine the depths of […]
In Alter Ego, Alex Segura’s atmospheric follow-up to his LA Times Book Prize-winning Secret Identity, we dive back into the complex world of comic book publishing – this time through a contemporary lens that explores the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success. While the first book introduced us to Carmen Valdez and her struggle […]