The Mercy of Gods

by James Corey

Dafyd Alkhor gets caught up in academic scandal and alien invasion. Will he save humanity or destroy it? Follow the career and life of Dafyd as he navigates his new reality. I originally picked this book up because I loved the cover art but it’s world building and character development are what kept me reading. If you’re a fan of Brandon Sanderson then this might be for you.

- Jim

The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982

In the summer of ‘82 I was about to be a sophomore in high school and my love of science fiction and fantasy was rewarded at the movies. In one summer E.T., Tron, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, Conan the Barbarian, Blade Runner, Poltergeist, The Thing, and Mad Max: The Road Warrior were all released. It was the greatest summer for movies ever. I saw four of them in the theaters, and Blade Runner was the first R rated movie I ever got to see. Most of the others I watched soon after on VHS. They are all classics. I was interested in how they all came to be released in the same summer. I was worried about the writing in the first chapter but the author really does a great job. This book would be great for anyone who loves Sci-Fi and it is particularly wonderful for people who remember that summer.

-Greg K.

First Lie Wins

by Ashley Elston

I enjoy a thriller any time of year, but I have to be reading at least one during the Halloween season. The current trend of bright lime text on mystery book covers has been drawing me in lately (see Lucy Foley’s The Midnight Feast and Riley Sager’s Middle of the Night on my “recently borrowed” list), and this book was no exception. If you love a fast-paced read with characters hiding twisted secrets and playing cat-and-mouse games, check this one out.

- Kristen

A River Enchanted

by Rebecca Ross

My book club chose this title for our October read. The first in a series, this fantasy draws from Scottish folktales an enchanting world where humans living on the isle of Cadence can learn and use magical abilities. One man who left the isle to train to become a bard on the mainland is called back to Cadence to help solve the mystery of young girls vanishing from their homes. Is this the work of the elemental Spirits cohabiting the isle, or is someone among the clan involved in the disappearances?

- Kristen

God of the Woods

by Liz Moore

This is a missing person crime thriller with a timeline that shifts from the 1950s to the 1970s, and a cast of characters ranging from the wealthy owners of an Adirondack summer camp to the local residents who staff it. Fans of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad might also enjoy this.

- Ronna

The Last Love Note

by Emma Grey

I chose this because it was recommended from a friend and the cover attracted my attention. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the main character and her best friend as it was funny and very realistic. The story had me laughing at times and other times feeling sad for the main character. The author did an excellent job of telling a heartbreaking story but added humor to make it more enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

- Kristi

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

by David Grohl

I just finished listening to this book based on a recommendation from a friend. I started reading the book but then downloaded the audiobook for a long car trip. Listening to David tell his own story really drew me in. I think we see famous people and assume the path to success is an easy one. Not so. You don't have to be a Nirvana or Foo Fighter fan to enjoy this book and to be amazed as to how David Grohl became one of most highly regarded rock stars of this age. I highly recommend the audiobook of The Storyteller.

- Sally

Naked In Death

by J.D. Robb

I wanted to try a murder mystery novel as this is a genre I rarely ever read. I like other Nora Roberts books, so I felt good about trying her crime series. The main character, Eve Dallas, is the kind of hard-bitten detective that you can feel for and respect. I want to see her succeed and already she is one of my top favorite fictional detectives. Anyone wanting a more intense and dark crime drama with romance in it then this is definitely for you.

- Greg G.

Death at the Sign of the Rook

by Kate Atkinson

Kate Atkinson’s latest entry in the Jackson Brodie mystery series promises something a little out of the ordinary. Putting aside the hard-boiled tone of Brodie’s previous cases, Atkinson is having fun with a setting and characters usually found in a classic mystery a la Agatha Christie: a showed-in English country house with a list of suspects (or will they be victims?) which includes a vicar, a retired Army major, a master detective and his trusty sidekick, and more. Throw in the fact that there is a staged murder-mystery dinner being presented at the manor in the midst of a real murder mystery, and the story gets even more complicated. A clever homage to golden age detective stories.

- Charlie

When You Trap a Tiger

When You Trap a Tiger

The beautiful cover of this middle grade novel caught my attention from its spot on the shelf and upon reading it, it is a story of growth, self-love, and the beauty of generational connection. Weaved with retellings of Korean folktales it makes for a magical and emotional Tuesday night. Great read for those curious what kind of stories a tiger would tell.

- Emily

The Way Through the Woods: On Mushrooms and Mourning

by Litt Woon Long, Barbara J. Haveland (Translator)

I've been on a healing journey for the past couple of years after suddenly losing both of my parents within 7 months of each other. I love mushrooms because they have always represented death and new life at the same time and that had an even more special meaning to me once I lost my parents. This book does a really good job at explaining all of the feelings I have had about mushrooms and mourning this entire time and gave me new ways to look at life as I continue to heal. I recommend this book to anyone who may be trying to mourn the loss of anything or anyone meaningful in their lives and wants a new way to try to heal.

-Avie

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

by Hajime Kōmoto

I saw a clip of the anime that was a really funny scene and decided to give the manga a try. This manga is hilarious and outrageous! The action scenes are amped up in every volume! Anyone who loves to laugh out loud while reading will love this manga!

- Rachel

The Frozen River (Audiobook)

by Ariel Lawhon

I'm only a couple of hours into it, but I'm enjoying it so far: In the late 1700s, a Maine midwife investigates the suspicious death of an alleged rapist, whose body was found frozen in the local river. The audiobook is compelling, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

- Ronna

Home is Where the Bodies Are

by Jeneva Rose

This book caught my attention because I have read another by her and liked it. In a nutshell, it's about 3 estranged siblings who return to their mother's estate after her passing. While going through belongings they stumble upon a VHS tape containing information regarding a pact their parents made over a dead body and how to get rid of it. The book chronicles their decision to leave the past in the past or uncover the secret their mother took to her grave.

The plot summary sounds overused, but the story sucks you in because the siblings are given very little information with which to attempt to figure out this secret. The character development, the interesting back and forth between siblings, and the ending I didn't see coming makes one want to continue reading to find out exactly what happened.

- Mary

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

by Katherine Howe

I often choose books based on their titles or cover art. This was one of those! Needless to say it was a great choice. The book moves between contemporary times and that of the Salem witch trials. The main character spends her summer doing research for her dissertation and while doing so is asked to handle the sale of her grandmother's home near Salem, MA. She discovers the house overgrown and surrounded by poisonous plants and with mysterious bottles and books inside. In one of these books she finds an ancient key containing a yellowing fragment of paper with a name written on it. This launches her on a quest to find out who this woman was and to discover who her ancestors were.

Again, the plot summary seems easy to figure out...but it isn't. Read on and you will be intrigued by the mystery and the information contained within the book.

- Mary

We Solve Murders

by Richard Osman

For those of you who liked the Thursday Murder Club series, this new series is just as good! The author has brought together a new set of characters who are all as interesting as those in his previous books. This is a fun and easy read and Osman writes with the kind of humor that wants you to keep you reading. It's a blend of the cozy mystery and thriller genres. The characters are sent on a global search and find characters to help them solve a mystery who are just as eccentric. Take a break and give an easy read a try. You won't be disappointed and you'll get caught up in the humor and thrill of it all.

I'm only half way through this book but can't wait to see how the eccentric characters evolve!

- Mary

A Song to Drown Rivers

by Ann Liang

I picked this book not only because of its pretty cover but also because it's inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China. Learning more about other cultures is what motivated me to keep reading this book.

- Denise