In this (twenty-fourth, obviously) installment of the Stephanie Plum series, Stephanie, a bounty hunter, is at it again, with her friend Lula tagging along for the ride. Together, they make quite a humorous pair as they attempt to capture runaway bail-skippers. This time, they stumble upon a few zombies along the way. Well, there aren’t any real zombies, right? In fact, the “zombie” sightings are part of an ongoing police investigation led by Morelli, a detective and Stephanie’s love interest. During the course of events, Stephanie's fugitive hunt crosses paths with Morelli's zombie investigation. With a little help from a few friends and family, including the always delightful Grandma Mazur, the story progresses at a brisk pace, and the laugh out loud moments make Hardcore Twenty-Four an enjoyable and easy read.
For the uninitiated, starting with the first book in the series, One for the Money, may be a better introduction to Stephanie’s life, but it's not a requirement to appreciate this story.
Tree-ear, an orphan, is fascinated by the potters in his village. One day, he is watching the potter Min working at his craft. After Min walks away from his work, Tree-ear goes and picks up a box that Min made. Min's return startles Tree-ear, causing him to drop the box. In order to pay for the damage, Tree-ear agrees to work off the debt. Initially, he agreed to work nine days, but he continues to work for Min for months, without pay, in order to learn how to be a potter.
One day, Min and Tree-ear learn that a royal emissary is coming to the village to commission work. This is a much sought-after
opportunity. On the day of the emissary’s visit, the best potters set up stalls showcasing their work. Min, a man very meticulous about his product, has the fewest items to show the emissary, but Min’s work, along with a few other potters, intrigues the visitor enough to warrant a second review on his return visit in the coming weeks.
Who will get the royal commission? What will become of Tree-ear after his work with Min is done? Winner of the Newbery Medal, this is a wonderful historical fiction story that takes place in medieval Korea, offering a fascinating peek into another culture.
Imagine a world where Lincoln was assassinated too early, and a frantic Congress signed a grand compromise to end the Civil War: slavery could never be constitutionally outlawed, but individual states could outlaw it, and an emancipated state could never revert back to a slave state. Then fast forward to the modern day. Only four slave states remain: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and the united Carolina. The rest of the country frowns on the so-called "Hard Four," but not enough to actually break the status quo.
Victor was once a slave, before he fled north. But he was caught. Rather than being returned to the farm that haunts his nightmares, he was blackmailed into working for the government, tracking and capturing other runaway slaves so that they could be punished or returned. But his latest case isn't like the others. Things just don't add up. And on top of it all, he keeps getting sidetracked by unexpected personal matters. Will Victor catch the mysterious runaway Jackdaw? Or will this be the case that finally breaks him?
This is equal parts a twisty thriller and a startling alternate history. Victor is a flawed but believable protagonist, and his offhand references to familiar-yet-different historical events will keep you reading even through the harrowing moments in his narrative. This is a must-read for fans of alternate histories or realistic sci-fi, like 11/22/63 or Station Eleven.
For the past ten months, Dr. Anna Fox has been trapped inside her New York City home, completely isolated from the outside world. Her crippling agoraphobia leaves her unable to even step out onto her front stoop without fear and anxiety overwhelming her mind. So she spends her days drinking, watching old movies, and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move in. From Anna's view across the street, they seem like a perfect family. Until Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn't have.
Woman in the Window is a twisty page-turner that leaves you constantly guessing about what's real. With frequent golden-age Hollywood references, this is a perfect book for fans of classic films like Rear Window and Gaslight.
Monkeewrench, led by the abrasive and paranoid Grace McBride, is a software company operated by an eclectic group of best friends with a suspiciously secretive past. Their newest program is a still-in-development training program for detectives and forensic specialists. It shows you a fictional crime scene, and you click around to investigate it. It's that simple... Until someone starts committing actual crimes based on their fake crime scenes. The game hasn't been released yet, so the police are looking at Monkeewrench as the only suspects. To clear their names, they'll have to work with the detectives to catch this criminal, before it's too late. Even if it means revealing the dark secrets of their past.
This is a fantastic mystery/thriller. The plot is good, but its writing style is what really shines. The descriptions are vivid, the dialogue is hilarious, and its tense moments are legitimately thrilling. Every character is put together with great care and personality, and their friendships are heartwarming. Because of this, it holds up well to re-reading, even if you know the ending. It takes place in Minnesota, which is a nice change of pace if you're tired of stories set in New York and California. The authors are a mother-daughter writing duo, and the Monkeewrench series currently has eight books in it.
Robert Langdon, a renowned professor of symbology, has been flown into Spain to witness what is being described as a "world-changing presentation." The presenter and host, Edmond Kirsch, is a billionaire futurist, who promises his audience that what they are about to see will forever change the way that we understand human existence. Unfortunately, as the presentation gets underway, an unexpected event happens, throwing the room into chaos. Suddenly, the presentation and the revelations held within it are at risk of being lost. Robert Langdon finds himself thrust into the position of fighting against those who wish to stop Edmond’s presentation from happening, and they will do whatever it takes to stop him.
Dan Brown is rightfully famous for his thrilling stories, and this is no exception. Each chapter is a cliffhanger begging the reader to keep on going until all is revealed. While Origin is the fifth book in the blockbusting Robert Langdon series, it’s not necessary to have read the previous ones to enjoy this story. If you want to read the series in order, the books are: Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, and Origin. They have also been turned into a series of movies starring Tom Hanks.
Eleanor Oliphant is fine. At least, she knows that's what she's supposed to say if anyone asks. Socially acceptable behavior doesn't come naturally to her. She's been alone for almost as long as she can remember, but it's fine. People are all mean, irrational dullards who mock her behind her back anyway, so she doesn't need them. She works all day in accounts receivable, and then she goes home and chugs vodka until the voices in her head quiet down enough for her to pass out. That's been her life for years. And, if anyone asks, she's fine.
Then, one day, her life changes. She watches a musician perform at a work event, and it's love at first sight. She just has to make herself into wifely material first, and surely the second he meets her, he'll propose. Meanwhile, her office has a new IT guy, Raymond, and he's one of the least pleasant men Eleanor has ever met. He's overweight, with sloppy clothes and eating habits, and he walks weirdly. But for some reason he keeps talking to her. And for some reason... that's completely fine.
Will Eleanor marry the musician? Will she let Raymond be her friend? Will she finally let herself remember the horrors of her past? Find out in this veritable roller coaster of emotions. It's a surprisingly dark, sometimes funny, completely heartwarming read. I highly recommend the audiobook, because the reader is absolutely fantastic.
